Islamic Youth in Europe
Step 1: Definition of the Problem
The Problem: There are many Middle Eastern Islamic Families migrating to Europe. The culture has a very strong influence on the youth in the Middle East. The research study will evaluate the affect that the Western European culture has on Islamic youth after they have immigrated. It is vital to know if these youth relate more with their Muslim roots or with the newfound European way of life. The top 10 countries in Western Europe (Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland and Austria), with the most immigration will be used for this study. The research will find out what country the teenager (or parent) has immigrated from and find out if the country has a direct correlation with the above situation. Youth is defined as immigrant Islamic (practicing or non-practicing Muslim) youths age: 14- 22. Traditional Islamic Muslims are individuals who adhere to the five pillars of Islam and are active participants in their religion. Culture is defined as traditionalism in a country and the practices and beliefs the general populous follow and recognize as acceptable.
Questions: Pages 21-25
1. Is the topic too broad? The topic is not too broad. The target is of a certain age group, and particular culture. The ages targeted are 14-22 male and female youth, as defined above.
2. Can the problem really be investigated? Yes, the problem can be investigated with the right number of participants and the right questions, using qualitative and quantitative research to find answers. (Focus groups and surveys will also be utilized.)
3. Can the data be analyzed? Yes, the data can be analyzed. The research is to know about their behavior and their thoughts on the culture they practice. Through focus groups the researchers will examine behavior and test which culture is more prominent.
4. Is the problem significant? The problem is significant. With the growing number of Middle Eastern Families migrating to Western Europe it is important for advertisers to know how to speak to this growing population. Will these people have an appeal for the European style, or will they relate more to something from their own country? Advertisers must know how to appeal to this audience.
5. Can the results of the study be generalized? The results of the study can be generalized. The information provided can be used in advertising, understanding their culture in Europe, for Sociological studies, and Psychological studies.
6. What costs and Time are in the Analysis?
Costs
o Translators
o Focus Groups
o Focus Groups Mediator
o Food and lodging for Mediators and Translators
o Facilities to hold focus groups
o Finding participants
o Lists to send out surveys to willing participants
o Sending out surveys by e-mail
o Analysts
o Experiment- Participant Compensation
o Experiment Facilities
o Experiment analysis
o Pay for 3 Researchers
Time
o 2 months to finding participants
o 4 months to administer surveys and focus groups
o 4 months to analyze data
o 1 month to compile all information and submit to scholarly journals
o I year to get published
o 6 years for the longitudinal study
7. Is the approach appropriate to the project? Yes, because it is sensitive to the participants and culture. Also the study is both qualitative and quantitative.
8. Is there any potential harm to the subjects? There will not be any potential for physical harm to the subjects, although, the possibility for emotional harm is there. If the studies show that the youth would rather follow the European culture, or if a certain youth discovers that they want to be associated with the European culture; it may cause them to feel differently emotionally.
Step 2: Review Existing Research and Theory
Source 1:
Oppedal, Brit, Espen Røysamb. Young Muslim Immigrants in Norway: An Epidemiological Study of Their Psychosocial Adaptation and Internalizing Problems. Applied Development Science. 2007, Vol. 11, No. 3, 112–125, Copyright # 2007 by
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
This source is important because it provides a glimpse of what the research is trying to accomplish. It is a study conducted in Norway that examines the lives of Muslim teenagers, the same target audience we are examining, by researching their Psychosocial adaptation in the country. There were 1666 immigrants studied and the majority (63.3%) were born outside of the country of Norway. The study also takes an in depth look at comparison of the individuals whose family come from different Islamic countries in the Middle East and Africa.
It is relevant to the research because the target audiences are the same. It provides insights into dividing the research into categories like national ethnicity. And it provides an insight into the home life and psychological well-being of the individuals.
Source 2:
Grillo, Ralph. Islam and Transnationalism. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
Vol. 30, No. 5, September 2004, pp. 861-878
This source provides information about the various ethnic groups in the Middle East and their immigration to Western Europe. It addresses the differences between traditional and passive followers of Islam and the trends within various nations. It studies the correlation between identities that they fall under and practices held by each sect.
This does not specifically address the youth target market but addresses the population as a whole. It gives insight into questions that would be specific and receive the best results for the study.
Source 3:
Hellyer, Hisham A. British Muslims: Past, Present and Future. Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations University of Warwick England. Muslim World; Apr2007, Vol. 97 Issue 2, p225-258, 34p
This case study discusses the difficulty of integrating Muslims into European societies. It delves into the prejudice that Muslims face in Britain and how society doesn’t allow Islamic immigrants to be “British.”
It is relevant to the research because it examines the very issue the researchers are trying to prove. It gives insight into one particular country they are examining and explains reasons as to why integration is difficult.
Step 3: Hypotheses
The research hypotheses is that: Immigrant Islamic Youth from the Middle East living in Western Europe do not assimilate into Western European culture but rather follow their traditional religious and cultural beliefs set forth by the individual countries they immigrated from.
Step 4: Methodology and Research
- The total population consists of Islamic youth, male and female, ages 14-22 who are first generation or immigrants from Middle Eastern countries. They live in the 10 largest Islamic immigrant populated countries within Europe, namely: Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Our participant list would be gathered by random selection of various sized cities in Europe. The researchers will obtain lists through language training schools and through secondary schools within the chosen cities. They will use a non-probability purposive sample including subjects that are selected specifically because of their ethnic background. Sampling error will occur, the researchers will categorize the cities individually by their size and evaluate them and compare only through population size, to find the error. By examining in relation to size they can lower the sampling error and have more accurate numbers.
- The hypothesis will require both qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative research includes a six year experiment that evaluates psychological feelings of new immigrants ages (14-20) in a longitudinal panel study. The experiment evaluates changes in feelings over particular issues and standards over the course of the participants adolescent maturation.
Each year the participant comes in to complete the study their picture will be taken to be able to see the change in their dress. The qualitative research is through focus groups.
- The research experiment will ensure internal validity through eliminating artifacts, such as language skills, (we will hire interpreters) and ensure the participants that their answers will be completely anonymous.
- The research will be externally valid. It is a ground breaking study that will examine foreign national relations within Europe. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods will allow for the study to be generalized in many capacities. This study will help in advertising, immigration regulations, schooling, psychology, and other studies not noted here.
- An experiment will be used in this study to understand how 14-20 year-old males and females within this circumstance change over time. The experiment will be a longitudinal panel study that consists of 75 participants from each of the ten countries being studied. The participants will start at age 14 and will be tested every two years through the age of 20. The studies will consist of tests to find out how they feel about certain images and styles, along with questions concerning their background and what they think about certain lifestyles, political, and moral views. The independent variables are the participants. The dependent variables will be whether or not they assimilate. The manipulation will be time between each test and the fact that they are exposed to a new culture. The incentives to keep the participants coming for each test would be monetary. They will receive $100 for each test they participate in. The researchers should plan on a 25% turnover each year the tests are administered. The turn over will eliminate artifacts in the experiment.
- The researchers will use interval and ratio measurement levels. For example they will need to define the responses of the participants in numbers so that it can be quantitative. Some of the questions asked will apply only to males or females so they will need an absolute zero because it will not apply to one gender or the other.
- The ethical problems that could be encountered are: if the examiners do not give complete confidentiality, or within focus groups one child treating another poorly due to their comments. The researchers would create a contract for both the examiners and the participants that would give them a way out if they felt uncomfortable disclosing their opinions in any way. This contract would have a zero tolerance for breaking any confidentiality or poor treatment.
- The experiment will use longitudinal research. This is explained in number five. The research will use content analysis by providing a code sheet to the research coders. The researchers will train the coders, and test them for reliability.
- The research will need to test the hypothesis for statistical significance with a one tail test. Which will predict the results as either positive or negative to the hypothesis of whether Islamic youth from the Middle East living in Western Europe do or/do not assimilate into Western European culture but rather follow their traditional religious and cultural beliefs set forth by the individual countries they or their families immigrated from.
Step 5: Collecting Relevant Data
The researchers will gather survey data through three means, A Longitudinal Panel Study, A Survey, and Focus Groups.
The longitudinal panel study will consist of 75 participants from each of the ten countries being studied. The participants will start at age 14 and will be tested every two years through the age of 20. The studies will consist of tests to find out how they feel about certain images and styles, along with questions concerning their background and what they think about certain lifestyles, political, and moral views. The incentives to keep the participants coming for each test would be monetary. They will receive $100 for each test they participate in. The researchers should plan on a 25% turnover each year the tests are administered. The turn over will eliminate artifacts in the experiment.
A survey (see Appendix A) will be sent through e-mail to Islamic youth in each of the ten countries being studied. Because the individuals are minors, this survey will provide general information as to the beliefs, practices, and environments of Islamic Youth. It will be used to test the hypothesis and provide information for further research. To increase response rate the questions will be generalized and the length of the questions short. The survey will also explain the purpose and ensure anonymity.
The focus groups will be conducted in 3 various sized cities within the ten countries. The questions asked will be based off the survey answers and it will provide insight into the culture and feelings Islamic youth have as immigrants. Images will be presented, as well as advertisements that portray different aspects of Islamic and European Culture. Participants will be asked to discuss and rate their feelings on the images. The participants will receive compensation for participation.
Step 6: Interpretation of Results
The researchers will utilize Microsoft Excel to document and analyze the research. The survey sent out will be in digital format providing easy access to saving the results in Microsoft Excel.
The researchers will create spreadsheets that can be turned into graphs and charts to analyze the data from the various participating countries. The exceptions will be the write on answers of the surveys, which would be categorized individually by analysts with code sheets and then turned in to quantifiable data.
Step 7: Presentation of Results
The researcher will present the results in a scholarly journal case study. The published analysis will be in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. It will use bar graphs and line charts as well as information obtained through focus groups. The survey will use various forms of scales such as the Likert scale and semantic differential scales. The researchers will analyze the data and present it in a quantifiable system of measurement.
Step 8: Study Replication
The information provided will be beneficial in advertising, immigration regulations, schooling, and in Sociological and Psychological studies. The study will examine foreign national relations within Europe and will provide insight into what will occur in the next twenty years within various European countries. It will benefit other professionals within the field of immigration studies because it provides a extensive overview of Islamic immigrant assimilation and culture. The research could be used in a variety of manners and would be beneficial to future research projects.
Step 9: Total Costs
o Translators 10(30,000) = $300,000
o Focus Groups 10(3(25 x 50)) = $37,500
o Focus Groups Mediator 10(3 x 20,000) = $600,000
o Food and lodging for Mediators and Translators 10(3 x 1,000) = $30,000
o Facilities to hold focus groups 10(3 x 500) = $15,000
o Finding participants= $40,000
o Lists to send out surveys to willing participants = $20,000
o Sending out surveys = $2,000
o Analysts 10($30,000) = $300,000
o Experiment- Participant Compensation 10(75(3 x 200)) = $450,000
o Experiment Facilities 10(3 x 500) = $15,000
o Experiment analysis= 10(50,000) = $500,000
o Pay for 3 Researchers= 7 years ($30,000 x 3) = $630,000
o Total Cost= $2,939,500
Appendix A
1. Which year were you born in? (DROP DOWN BOX w/YEARS. If not in the specified age group the survey will end for the participant.)
2. What is your gender?
A. Female
B. Male
3. What country do you currently reside in? (DROP DOWN BOX)
4. How long have you lived in this country? (DROP DOWN BOX)
5. Why did you move to this country? (DROP DOWN BOX)
6. What country does your family originate from? (DROP DOWN BOX)
7. Are you Muslim?
A. Yes
B. No
8. If yes, which Islamic Tradition do you adhere to?
A. Sunni
B. Shiite
C. Duruz
D. Alawi
E. Other: (WRITE IN BOX)
9. How often do attend Mosque?
A. 1-2 times per month
B. 3-4 times per month
C. 5 times per month or more
D. I do not attend Mosque
10. Do you think that the country you now reside in has affected your religious practices?
A. Yes
B. No
11. Have you been introduced to different religions since immigration?
A. Yes
B. No
12. Have you considered changing your religious beliefs?
A. Yes
B. No
13. On a scale between 1-10, 10 being highly represented, how well is your ethnic group represented in the media, (i.e. People of Islamic descent in media)?
A. 1-2
B. 3-4
C. 5-6
D. 7-8
E. 9-10
14. Have your clothing habits changed since immigration?
A. Yes
B. No
15. Do you dress to fit in with the European fashion that is around you?
A. Yes
B. No
16. Do you wear the hijab? (Female Question Only)
A. Yes
B. No
17. Do you think females should wear the hijab in public? (Male Question Only)
A. Yes
B. No
18. Why? (WRITE IN BOX)
19. How many hours per week do you use each type of media listed bellow? (Offer a drop down box next to each that gives options)
A. Ipod
B. Computer with Internet access
C. Computer without Internet access
D. Television
E. Radio
F. Magazines
G. Other: (WRITE IN BOX)
H. None
20. Do you feel like you fit in at school?
A. Yes, I fit in well with the other students.
B. I mostly fit in with the other students.
C. I do not fit in with the other students.
21. What percentage of your friends are Muslim?
A.0-15%
B. 16-30%
C. 31-45%
D. 46-60%
E. 61-75%
F. 76-90%
G. 91-100%
22. Do you feel like you face persecutions for your religious beliefs at school?
A. Yes
B. No
Branch if Yes: Why? (WRITE IN BOX)
23.Do you feel like you face language barriers?
A. Yes
B. No
Branch if Yes: Give an example that has happened to you: (WRITE IN BOX)
24. What do you feel is the biggest challenge for Islamic youth in Europe? (WRITE IN BOX)
25. How does this affect you? (WRITE IN BOX)
