Critical Review Application and Evaluation of Real-World Research

Emphasising the material and data used, the intended message, and any exclusions, this essay provides a thorough examination of how the media article titled, ‘ Australia’s social cohesion at record low, but 70?lieve migrants make country stronger employs published research’. The essay further analyses the purpose of the study topic, the research methods employed, and their strengths and limitations. To overcome the restrictions of the original research, several approaches to data collecting and analysis are also suggested. 

Use of Published Research

 The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute's 2024 Mapping Social Cohesion survey results are reported in a media item from The Guardian. The media article was aimed at evaluating participants' sense of belonging, value, inclusion and justice, political engagement, acceptance and rejection to generate a cohesiveness index and a numerical benchmark that can be year on year (The Guardian, 2024). Emphasising topics including diminishing social cohesion, shifting public attitudes toward immigration, and financial pressures, it deftly delivers significant statistical data and qualitative insights from the research.

Article's Message

   The paper tries to show that although social cohesiveness in Australia is at its lowest point, 70% of the population thinks migrants make the nation stronger. It further conveys that resilience endures in the face of political and economic obstacles. Financial stresses continue to be prevalent, with 41% of respondents self-identifying as barely managing. It underlines the growing discrepancy in public opinion on immigration and religious diversity as well as the still strong support for multiculturalism (The Guardian, 2024).

Exclusion of Information

Although the author did not particularly justify the exclusion, the possible motives behind the exclusion may be the purpose of the research as the Scanlon Foundation Research survey, Across 100 measures of social cohesiveness, immigration, multiculturalism, well-being, and other factors, finds Australians' attitudes, views, and behaviours and topical concerns including financial issues (Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, 2024). On the contrary, FECCA produces the fruits of a good analysis that focuses on aspects of social cohesiveness, belongingness, community engagement, and experiences with racism and discrimination, which inform the ongoing development of multicultural policy in Australia. In particular, it has discussed the capture of indicators of success as well as areas of concern for subsequent policy initiatives intended to develop further an ever-greener, more cohesive, and more integrated multicultural Australia (FECCA, 2024). Again, the Australian National University poll benchmarks Australia against worldwide opinion and places public opinion in a wider policy framework, therefore differentiating it from other opinion surveys. Over many years, the ANU poll can also track trends in views (ANU poll, 2024). Since the researcher wanted to find out a broader range of public opinions, s/he chose the Scanlon Foundation Research survey instead of the other two that focus primarily on policy changes.

Research Insights

The results of the poll on the social fabric, financial pressure, views on immigration, and institutional trust have been summarised very comprehensively by the paper on the relevance of insights. Not engaged in many detailed research methods or comparisons with other sources of research, it has gaps for the reader looking for a fuller understanding, which a broader qualitative research method could furnish. The paper does really well in presenting the major trends from studies but lacks methodological criticism. Neither does it probe possible data collection biases or other explanations of the noted trends. Although it weighs the favourable points quite well balanced against the injurious ones in results, a more thorough examination of causative elements and policy consequences would improve its study.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The study has achieved its purpose, which was to measure the levels of social cohesiveness in Australia, using political engagement, attitudes towards immigration and cultural diversity, and the sense of belonging as possible elements. In terms of research methodology, this study employs extensive surveys of about 8,000 randomly selected subjects and an additional 229 specific individuals. Forty-five qualitative interviews with individuals were also included. The sample size of both quantitative and qualitative methods is appropriate. Also, mixed methods of research have been employed, which is a strength as mixed approaches help researchers to sufficiently depth and breadth of research concerns and allow generalising conclusions to the entire community (McLeod, 2024; López-Aymes et al., 2021).

Possible limitations include bias in the target sample, as the participant group may not fully represent all Australians born overseas. Also, social desirability may bias the response to more sensitive topics such as religion and immigration. Additionally, there is an absence of longitudinal follow-up as there is no tracking of individual respondents' changes, but year-on-year trends are analysed. The qualitative interviews are limited in focus as they are primarily focusing on polarisation.

The results indicate considerable shifts in the public mind, with specific reference to immigration. Yet, the study neglects to investigate the underlying causes of these shifts adequately. While the issue of economic constraints is considered, other aspects, such as media influence or political rhetoric, are not given particular focus. Moreover, the article doesn't present potential methodological weaknesses like sampling limitations or data interpretation biases. Yet, it clearly presents the key facts about Australia's social cohesiveness, positivity regarding immigration,  financial problems, and favourable support for multiculturalism.

Alternative Approaches to Handle Restraints

 Different approaches could be taken into consideration to improve the strength of the research, for example, longitudinal panel research, which tracks the same respondents over several years, offering a more thorough understanding of personal opinion changes than just depending on cross-sectional polls. A longitudinal is any research aiming at tracking the development of several events throughout time; it concentrates on the examination of transition (Moufdi & Mansouri, 2021). In addition, the qualitative part of the research, primarily focused on polarisation, should have been broader and included other aspects of social cohesiveness, immigration, multiculturalism, and well-being, which could have delved deeper into the underlying causes of the respondents’ opinions.

An extensive ethnography would probably provide a much more thorough and more convincing justification for trends indicated by the survey than that obtained from other qualitative interviews across more demographic strata. Emphasising the viewpoint of seeing things from the side of individuals under investigation, ethnography helps one to recognise the activities as social actions ingrained in a socially arranged realm that can be completed daily  (Black et al., 2021; Nixon & Odoyo, 2020).

Random sampling, employed in this research, provides justice and equal opportunities for every individual and thus allows the performing of statistical tests, minimises selection bias and gives more consistent outcomes and results that are usually applicable across populations. However, purposive sampling could have been more meaningful as it allows the selection of the population relevant to the research question. Also, this would have been particularly useful in qualitative research where specific experiences or expertise are found, enabling critical data collection with a view to those who have rare knowledge or experience. Such methods could allow further research to build a more complex understanding of Australia's transforming dynamics concerning social cohesiveness.

Assessment Requirements Summary

The assessment required a critical analysis of a media article titled, “Australia’s social cohesion at record low, but 70?lieve migrants make country stronger”. The key objectives were to:

1. Examine the material and data used in the article, including published research sources.

2. Identify the intended message conveyed by the article.

3. Highlight any exclusions or omissions and assess their implications.

4. Critically analyse the research methods employed, noting strengths, weaknesses, and limitations.

5. Suggest alternative approaches to improve data collection and analysis.

6. Demonstrate the ability to integrate theoretical knowledge with real-world media research.

The assessment also required a structured essay with clear sections, including use of published research, message analysis, exclusions, research insights, strengths and weaknesses, and suggestions for improvement.

Mentor-Guided Approach to Completing the Assessment

The Academic mentor guided the student step-by-step to ensure a systematic and thorough completion of the assignment:

1. Understanding the Assignment Scope

   • The mentor clarified the essay’s aim: to critically analyse the media article through the lens of social cohesion research.

   • Key pointers, including data interpretation, research methodology evaluation, and critical discussion, were highlighted.

2. Analyzing Published Research

   • The student was instructed to identify the main data source (Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, 2024) and its role in supporting the article’s claims.

   • Guidance was provided on summarizing quantitative and qualitative insights from the survey while maintaining proper referencing.

3. Interpreting the Article’s Message

   • The mentor emphasized highlighting the main narrative: social cohesion is low, yet public support for migrants remains strong.

   • The student was guided to extract supporting data such as economic pressures, political attitudes, and multiculturalism support.

4. Identifying Exclusions and Limitations

   • The mentor suggested considering why certain information, such as other comparative surveys (FECCA, ANU polls), was excluded.

   • The student was guided to critically evaluate the implications of these exclusions on the overall analysis.

5. Evaluating Research Methodology

   • The student assessed sample size, survey methods, interviews, and the strengths of a mixed-method approach.

   • Limitations such as potential sampling bias, social desirability effects, and lack of longitudinal follow-up were highlighted.

6. Proposing Alternative Approaches

   • The mentor recommended suggesting methods like longitudinal panel studies, ethnographic research, and purposive sampling to strengthen future studies.

   • The student was encouraged to link these alternatives to improving data reliability and gaining deeper insights.

7. Structuring the Essay

   • Each section of the essay was carefully organized: introduction, research use, message analysis, exclusions, insights, strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations.

   • The mentor guided the student to ensure flow, coherence, and critical depth throughout the essay.

Final Outcome of the Assessment

• Comprehensive Analysis: The essay effectively examined the media article, identifying the purpose, message, data sources, and limitations.

• Critical Evaluation: Research methods, strengths, and weaknesses were evaluated systematically.

• Alternative Solutions: Suggestions for longitudinal studies, ethnography, and purposive sampling were provided to address limitations.

• Clear Structure: The essay followed a logical sequence, making it easy to follow and academically rigorous.

• Learning Objectives Achieved:

  • Understanding the use of published research in media analysis.

  • Evaluating and critiquing research methodologies.

  • Identifying strengths, weaknesses, and potential biases in research.

  • Developing alternative solutions for improved data collection and interpretation.

  • Integrating theory with practical insights to provide a critical and comprehensive analysis.

This approach ensured that the student produced a high-quality, critically engaged essay that met the assessment criteria while demonstrating mastery of research evaluation, critical thinking, and academic writing.

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