Methodology
The cognitive approach of Hartling and Luchetta (1999) has developed a scale whereby humiliation is measured quantitatively. They used an item-pool of 149 to assess the internal experience of humiliation. Their study indicated trends in humiliation, such as increased scores for females. Unfortunately, their quantitative method despite highlighting this interesting trend was unable to illuminate how the experience differs between the genders; further, interesting questions remain unanswered, such as What factors cause differing degrees of humiliation within each gender. Awareness of gender (and race) relation will inform our study throughoutparticularly in relation to embodied humiliation.
We propose a qualitative approach to studying humiliation of refugees in order to capture elements of the experience overseen within a quantitative schema. Our qualitative approach will acknowledge the individuality of the personal experience of humiliation whilst allowing examination of generalities including possible universal causes and phenomenological aspects.
We propose semi-structured interviews with a small number of participants (14-18). A narrative biographical interviews with an emphasis on humiliation would be the most appropriate means of capturing fundamental aspects of this experience. The interviews will then be transcribed using transcription notation germane to Discourse Analysis (see Hutchby) in relation social interaction (Goffman) and existentialism (Sartre, Laing). Discourse Analysis recognises talk/language as situated action. Using this approach represents our awareness of the effects a listener has upon a speaker and their expression; we will borrow from the theory of Membership Categorisation Analysis (Sacks) to assist such awareness. Therefore, we are aware of the problems of 'objectivity' posed throughout the interviews, because of interpersonal subjectivity; and we are equipped with a method that aims to de-problematising this issue. Exisitentialism will inform us about what it is to be situated, and further assists with the commonly supposed 'subjective-objective' distinction.
Before embarking upon individual interviews, we intend to visit an established Iraqi community group in order to refine our reseach questions. We feel it would be valuable for our research purposes to unfold essential issues felt by the refugees. We have consulted Refugee Action, a well established British refugee charity, about our proposal; they support our methods of approaching refugees to influence the issues that are to be considered important throghout the course of the study.
Focus
To study the experience and social interaction of the humiliated British/Danish Iraqi refugees.