Racism During COVID-19: Experiences of Australian-Asians Explored

This research report proposal investigates the experiences of racism among Australian-Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to analyze these experiences, understand the concept of racism, and determine the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on people, particularly those of Asian descent in Australia. The research employs an interpretivism philosophy and an inductive approach, utilizing a qualitative research method with interviews as the primary data collection strategy. The methodology includes ethical considerations to ensure data confidentiality and informed consent. The report reviews existing literature on racism and the pandemic's impact, focusing on the discrimination faced by Asian Australians. The research questions explore the types of discrimination, the impact of the pandemic, and specific experiences of racial discrimination. The report highlights the significance of the study in understanding racism and its impact on the community, offering insights into the challenges faced by Australian-Asians during the pandemic. The report also outlines the sampling method and interview questions used to gather data from respondents.

Qualitative Research
1

Contents
TITLE: “Experiences of racism among Australian-Asians during covid-19”.................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research Aim...............................................................................................................................3
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................3
Research Question.......................................................................................................................3
Significance of Study...................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
Experiences of racism among Australian-Asians during covid-19.............................................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................5
Research philosophy....................................................................................................................5
Research approach.......................................................................................................................6
Research choice...........................................................................................................................6
Research strategy.........................................................................................................................6
Data collection method................................................................................................................7
Sampling......................................................................................................................................7
Ethical Considerations.................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
2

TITLE: “Experiences of racism among Australian-Asians during covid-19”
INTRODUCTION
Racism is defined as a discrimination, prejudice or antagonism directed against an individual
or people based on their membership of a specific ethnic or racial group. It is a belief that it a
specific race is inferior or superior to another, that moral and social traits of an individual are
predetermined through their inborn biological characteristics. It is also referred as a hatred of one
individual by another - or a belief that other individual is less than human - due to language,
customs, skin colour, birth place or any other aspect which supposedly reveals basic nature of
that individual (Pisarska, 2016). This is a research report proposal which intent to answer the
question “What are the experiences of racism among Australian-Asians during covid-19?” The
outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has provoked discriminatory behaviours and social stigma
against individuals of certain ethnic backgrounds and any individual who supposed to have been
in contact with virus. In order to answer the question appropriately, this proposal is developed
that includes aim, objectives and questions of research along with review of secondary data on
the experiences of racism among Australian-Asians during covid-19 and the methods that helps
in performing the research in systematic manner.
Research Aim
The aim of this particular project is “To analyse the experiences of racism among
Australian-Asians during covid-19.”
Research Objectives
The objectives in relation to this investigation are as follows:
 To understand the concept of Racism.
 To determine the impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on people.
 To assess the experiences of racism among Australian-Asians during covid-19.
Research Question
The question related to this particular study is “What are the experiences of racism among
Australian-Asians during covid-19?”
3

Significance of Study
This research study will perform on the topic “Experiences of racism among Australian-
Asians during covid-19”. Performing study on this topic is significant for researcher as this will
assist in understanding the concept of racism along with the impacts of covid-19 pandemic on
people. This study also helps in analysing the experience of racism that anti-Asian people get in
Australia. Apart from this, this study will help in exploring various areas also related to the topic
which will help researcher in gaining deep insights on topic and improve his or her knowledge
base and understanding regarding the study area (Lynch, and Mannion, 2016).
LITERATURE REVIEW
Experiences of racism among Australian-Asians during covid-19
Racism is referred as the belief that distinct races possess different characteristics, qualities
or abilities, which distinguish them in superior or inferior to one another. It takes many forms
and can occur in many places. It involves hatred, discrimination or prejudice directed at someone
due to their ethnicity, colour, nationality etc. Racism is exacerbated in time of uncertainty, fear
and competition. However, equally kindness and inclusiveness can be improved in the crisis
time. Since the covid-19 pandemic outbreak takes place, people faced a lot of difficulties in
terms of losses of job, lack of housing, discrimination, psychological stress etc. which impacts
badly on their lives.
As per the view point of Michael Walsh, (2020), the racism associated with coronavirus has
left some individuals fearful in going out in public. People reported being insulted, coughed on
and spat at in public and said that lack of media diversity and political rhetoric played huge role
in racism. Supermarket in Australia is one of the places where Asian Australians had
experienced racial abuse. These people are targeted on footpath and road also where the people
uttered derogatory comments at low volume and abused them (Racism in Australia during the
coronavirus pandemic, 2020).
According to the viewpoint of Jason Fang, Christina Zhou and Samuel Yang, (2020), since
the initiation of covid-19 pandemic, Asian Australians have been physically and verbally
assaulted, received death threats, refused service as well as head their properties damaged. The
federal government has urged Australian people to call out and report racist attacks at the time
they see them and to not retaliate in opposition to Chinese Australians for any kind of feelings
4

they might have towards Beijing (Coronavirus has fueled racism against Asian-Australians,
2020). Since the very first confirmed case of covid-19 was reported in Australia, many
individuals with Asian backgrounds in the country said that they have experienced both not to
subtle and subtle racism.
As per the view point of Nick Baker, (2020), a survey was conducted and people were asked
to share their experiences of racism at the time of coronavirus pandemic. It has been found that
there has been an increase in racism in covid-19 situation. Several incidents related to racism has
been reported to police as well as many incidents against people with Asian heritage and Chinese
Australians were unreported (People in Australia experiencing anti-Asian racism during
coronavirus pandemic urged to speak out, 2020).
It has been found that Asian students were assaulted in CBD of Melbourne as they went to
supermarkets. Apart from this, the home of an Asian family was defaced with messages which
are abusive. Moreover, these people were not able to receive care services due to racial
discrimination. The Asian doctors have been rejected or racially abused by patients and people
was attacked and left hospitalised. It has been found from the survey that majority of racist
incidents or events work committed against women and around 86.5 percent of in person
incidents were conducted by strangers. In one case, it has been found that a girl who is 15 years
old was charged by police due to allegedly punching on face of a women who is 26 years old in
Queen Street Mall Brisbane after she accused her because of having covid-19.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In performing a particular research in systematic way, there are some methods that a
researcher can use to ensure that the study will be completed successfully and I am of the
research can be accomplished (Ngozwana, 2018). Research methodology is a significant part in
investigation which provides a path to investigator to perform study appropriately. Different
methods in research are discussed below:
Research philosophy
Positivism research philosophy is based on the objectivity and predictions can be made
based on the previously observed realities. Whereas, interpretivism philosophy is based on
qualitative methods that includes interpretation of elements of study and integrate human
interest. In this study, interpretivism philosophy will use as it is related to philosophical position
5

of idealism and focuses on employing various methods to reflect on distinct aspects of issue that
assist researcher in giving valid outcomes (Saunders, and Bezzina, 2015).
Research approach
Inductive as well as detective are the two methods which mainly used by researcher to
perform research. Inductive approach focuses on generating new theory and deductive approach
emphasis on testing a theory. In this investigation, inductive approach will be considered as it is
related to qualitative research and aims to emphasize on exploring a phenomenon from distinct
perspective which helps in collecting appropriate data.
Research choice
Quantitative research choice is based on collection of numerical information and
qualitative research choice is based on collection of non-numerical information. In this
investigation, researcher will make use of qualitative research method and gather qualitative
information which is non numeric in nature to explore information on the topic effectively
(Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2017).
Research strategy
Case study, experimental research, action research, survey, interview, questionnaire etc.
are the strategies that can help investigator in collecting information. In this investigation,
interview strategy will use by researcher to collect information by asking questions to
respondents one by one by using face to face communication or telephonic conversation. The
interview questions in relation to this investigation are as follows:
Interview Questions
Q1) Which type of discrimination people face the most due to situations like COVID-19
pandemic?
Q2) What is the impact of outbreak of coronavirus pandemic on lives of people?
Q3) In what way you experience racial discrimination during COVID-19 pandemic?
Q4) How Asian Australians are impacted by racial discrimination that they face during COVID-
19?
6

Data collection method
A researcher can collect data by using two methods including primary and secondary. In
relation to this research, researcher will use books, articles and journals to gather secondary data
and primary data will gather through interview method. Researcher will conduct telephonic
interview to collect primary data (Thomson and McLeod, 2015).
Sampling
In this research, probability sampling method will use to select sample size. Apart from
this, convenience sampling will use to select respondents. In this, 10 respondents were selected
who are Asian Australians people lived in Australia.
Ethical Considerations
Some ethical considerations need to be taken in consideration by researcher when
performing research. They must ensure that the collected data will be kept confidential and
privacy and security of data must be maintained. Apart from this, the consent should be taken
from respondents before taking their interview.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ngozwana, N., 2018. Ethical Dilemmas in Qualitative Research Methodology: Researcher's
Reflections. International Journal of Educational Methodology, 4(1), pp.19-28.
Saunders, M.N. and Bezzina, F., 2015. Reflections on conceptions of research methodology
among management academics. European management journal, 33(5), pp.297-304.
Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S., 2017. Decolonising research methodology must include undoing its dirty
history. Journal of Public Administration, 52(Special Issue 1), pp.186-188.
Thomson, R. and McLeod, J., 2015. New frontiers in qualitative longitudinal research: An
agenda for research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 18(3),
pp.243-250.
Lynch, J. and Mannion, G., 2016. Enacting a place-responsive research methodology: Walking
interviews with educators. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 16(4),
pp.330-345.
Pisarska, K., 2016. Australia’s Ambivalent Engagement with Asia. In The Domestic Dimension
of Public Diplomacy (pp. 91-144). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Online
Coronavirus has fueled racism against Asian-Australians, 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-05/coronavirus-racist-attacks-asian-australians-
missing-data/12211630?nw=0>
Racism in Australia during the coronavirus pandemic, 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-14/racism-in-australia-during-the-coronavirus-
covid-19-pandemic/12234832?nw=0>
People in Australia experiencing anti-Asian racism during coronavirus pandemic urged to speak
out, 2020. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.sbs.com.au/news/people-in-
australia-experiencing-anti-asian-racism-during-coronavirus-pandemic-urged-to-speak-
out>
8