Using focus group technique and Q-methodology in assessing the needs of migrant children from myanmar : A case study of immigrant communities in Ranong province
Abstract:
The purposes of this study were to assess needs of Burmese Migrant Children in Ranong and to assess the effectiveness by using two methods. Focus group technique and Q-methodology. The purposive sample was taken from Burmese migrant children in Ranong, Thailand. The research procedure consisted of three steps. The first step was to generate children's needs by focus group technique, the second step was ranking of those needs by Q-method and the final step was to validate finding by interviewing key informants. The study results were as follows: 1. The physical needs of migrant children were the effects of poor physical environment of their house, unhygienic individual and community sanitation and waste disposal, inadequate water and nutrition, physical abuse and crimel, sexual abuse of women, difficult working conditions and problems of accessing health service. The study populations concerned were fully aware of their physical needs. 2. The mental needs of migrant children were support for religious and culture activities, adaptation to new culture, the effects of changed family conditions, stress and strain of work place, effect of parents working conditions, needs for protection and desired for Thai nationality. The study populations concerned were partially aware of their mental needs. 3. The euducation needs of migrant children were sex education and family planing, varying occupational training and basic education. Most of the study populations didn't concern so much about their education needs. 4. The background variable of the samples didn't have any corelation on physical needs: but had some correlation on mental needs and significant correlation on education needs 5. Each of the two study methods have strengths and weaknesses when used separately. But when combined together, the strength of one was able to fill up the weakness of the other. In summary, these study methods provided complementary and effective results.