Quantitative Research: Anglicare Survey Report Analysis

This report analyzes a media report discussing the findings of a survey conducted by Anglicare Australia on affordable housing. The survey examined the challenges faced by low-income families in the private rental market. The report discusses how the media report presented the survey's findings, evaluates the strengths and limitations of Anglicare's research, and suggests alternative methods of data collection, particularly qualitative methodologies like in-depth interviews, case studies, and focus groups. The study highlights the critical shortage of affordable rentals and the need for government intervention. The report emphasizes the relationship between income, housing type, and social location, advocating for a fair tax system and a deeper understanding of the issue through diverse research methods. The analysis also considers the implications of the findings for vulnerable groups and the indigenous population.

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Discussion of the ways the media article has made use of the published survey
research
On 30th April, 2018 journalist Michael discussed the findings of Anglicare Australia to
underscore the plight of people who are facing problem with affordable housing. The aim of this
paper is to discuss about the media report covered by Michael on the survey research conducted
by Anglicare Australia. It has been found that Anglicare Australia is committed in finding out
about the plight of the low-income group in relation to renting a home in the private market. The
paper discusses about the ways in which the media report has explained, discussed and explored
the findings of the published report by Anglicare Australia, evaluation of the strength and
limitation of the anglicare survey research and recommendations for the alternate methods of
data collection.
The purpose of Anglicare Australia is to examine whether people belonging to the low income
families are able to rent home in the private market. This is done through by taking the snapshot
of people with thousands of properties and is subsumed under the rent list on realestate.co.au.
This survey research takes place during the months of March or April. After the collection of
data, the next step adopted by them is to assess whether the property is suitable and affordable
for 14 types of household that have low income. The reporter asserts that whilst discussing and
examining about affordability the rents should not be more than 30 per cent of the budget of the
household and it was found that 485 properties were affordable according to the Disability
Support Pension (0.72 per cent). Out of this, 180 properties were found to be affordable for the
single parents who have one child and only three rentals were affordable for the single person
(Pro Bono Australia 2018). The findings from the study provide a grim picture about affordable
housing in Australia. This is indicate of the private rental market in Australia being more reliable

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than the state funded affordable housing to take care of the teeming population in the low-
income category who are deprived of affordable housing in Australia. These findings indicate
that public housing or social housing should be the thrust of the government which in this case is
absent and therefore needs attention. It is not just the core places in the city but the regional areas
are equally out of reach of the middle-income and low-income group. There has been a plummet
in the pension as the employers have shifted their base. The media report has used the study to
share to examine, ascertain and articulate about the condition of affordable housing and renting
of properties in Australia. In addition, the media report provides insight into the demography of
people concerning this affordable housing. They have deployed the study to predict about the
future of affordable housing and find the connection between poverty, homelessness and
affordable housing.
Evaluation of the strength and weakness of the original publish research report
Anglicare Australia is committed to examining the condition of affordable housing and
homelessness in Australia through survey research. The research conducted by the
organization has been a nationally accepted benchmark. The organization calculated the
income of the household by deploying the government published information concerning
the existing rates of payments for Newstart, the Disability Support Pension,
Commonwealth Rental Assistance, Youth Allowance, Aged Pension, Family Tax Benefits
and the minimum wage. This was the procedure followed by the organization. All these
corroborate that the organization uses reliable sources for its secondary data analysis and
indicate about the maximum affordable rent for each of the household types. The second
strength of the research report lies in its area wise assessment in the condition of homeless and
affordable housing. The third strength of the report lies in its ability to accurately predict the

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data. For example, the organization ensues that cheap renting may be an indication of the decline
in jobs and the lower purchasing power of the potential buyers in the market. Therefore, the
compilers of the report are able to provide astute explanations connecting the variable of
income, types of housing and status of the individual. The sample population of the study
were categorized into household type, source of income and number of people in the appropriate
and appropriate.
The limitation of the Anglicare research report is that it relies on the government
procured sources that might be problematic considering that it may generate biased data as the
government officials conduct it. Another limitation of the study is that fails to look to take into
account the implications of homelessness for women, sexual minorities, ethnic minorities and the
vulnerable groups (Marczyk, DeMatteo and Festinger 2017). Considering the discrimination
faced by the indigenous population in Australia, it would have been more insightful to
understand the ways in which the homelessness and affordable housing issue impinge the
indigenous community in Australia (Weber 2017).
Alternate methods of data collection
The alternative method of data collection in this case would be the adoption of qualitative
methodology. Qualitative methodology comprises of methods that are meant for eliciting data in
a much more in-depth manner (Flick 2015). A qualitative researcher would deploy qualitative
interviewing the feature of which being intensive personal interview along with participant
observation. Therefore, for the purpose of the study, I would deploy qualitative methodology and
the methods of data collection of in-depth interview of 60 participants through a longitudinal
research design (Alvesson and Sköldberg 2017). Secondly, case study research may be

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conducted on families to understand their plight on affordability and in what ways their social
location poses constraint in seeking the right kind of housing. There can also be focused group
discussions with the families where the different members of the family can share their
experience and articulate the issue of affordable housing through their experiential reality.
Participant observation in the different areas would enable the researcher to have a more in-depth
insight into the issue. Another method of data collection can be the deployment of mixed
methods or triangulation (Kaplan 2017). The advantage of using mixed method would enable the
researcher to integrate multiple methods that would facilitate the research in different ways and
enhance the validity and reliability of the study.
Based on the above discussion it can be sated that there is a relationship between the
source of income of a person and the type of household sought by the person. This is in addition
exacerbated by the social location of the individual. Survey research used by Anglicare is
appropriate in highlighting about the complexities of the issue and that is manifested in
explanations of the findings. However, adoption of qualitative research methodology will
generate an in-depth understanding and enable the government as well as the private market to
initiate appropriate measures. Anglicare’s call for a fair tax system is a pragmatic measure.

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References
Alvesson, M. and Sköldberg, K., 2017. Reflexive methodology: New vistas for qualitative
research. Sage.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Kaplan, A., 2017. The conduct of inquiry: Methodology for behavioural science. Routledge.
Marczyk, G., DeMatteo, D. and Festinger, D., 2017. Essentials of research design and
methodology. John Wiley.
Pro Bono Australia. (2018). Anglicare Finds Chronic Shortage of Affordable Rentals for Welfare
Recipients | PBA. [online] Available at: https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/04/anglicare-
finds-chronic-shortage-affordable-rentals-welfare-recipients/ [Accessed 12 May 2018].
Weber, M., 2017. Methodology of social sciences. Routledge.