write an Critically Appraised Topics
CHEN 3
PROBLEM DEFINITION REPORT
I - Background and Context
Australian universities have been experiencing discrimination issues on campus. Most of the universities enjoy a long-standing motto which celebrate diversity as a critical value. However, the increasing population of transgenders on campus has imposed a challenge on the school administration and the student body due to the limited prior experience and possible bullying targeting the transgender community. Hence, the school administration is looking for ways to prevent bullying and better support the transgender and the LGBTI population at large.
II - Justification of Interest and Evidence for the Problem
The 2016 Census has revealed that transgenders occupied approximately 14.8% of the Australian population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018.) With such a high percentage, the universities have provided limited support to the group and somehow neglected the diversity awareness education in the curriculum. As a result, bullying, including cyberbullying, would occur at high chances. Indeed, a survey of an American college has indicated that 78% of the transgender students had experienced harassments (Stolzenberg and Hughes, 2017.) If the discriminatory behaviors led to on-campus violence, the school would take much burden and responsibilities. Furthermore, the deficiency in diversity awareness would hurt the university’s reputation, which could lead to substantial financial losses.
III - Questions: Causes of the Problem
PICOC
Population = Enrolled students of the universities
Intervention = Diversity awareness education and Support for transgenders
Comparison = No education or support
Outcome = Incidence of discriminatory violence or bullying
Context = Australian universities
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Table 1 - Questions to explore the problem from scientific sources |
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Questions |
Justifications |
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What is the impact of not providing diversity awareness education program on the occurrence of discriminatory violence or bullying incidence in the scientific literature? |
It attempts to estimate the probability of the occurrence of the outcome situation in the case of no intervention. |
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What is known in the scientific literature about the impact of not providing administrative support for transgenders on the occurrence of discriminatory violence or bullying incidence ? |
Framed in the same way as the previous question, this question evaluates the occurrence of the outcome in the case of lacking another intervention. |
IV - Questions: Potential Solutions to the Problem
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Table 2 - Questions to explore possible solutions from scientific sources |
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Questions |
Justifications |
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What is known in the scientific literature about the impact (to what degree) of the diversity awareness education program (Intervention) on preventing incidence of discriminatory violence or bullying (outcome) ? |
It probes the causality between the “Intervention” and “Outcome.” The question focuses on one intervention method, and also investigates the degree of influence, i.e., the Moderator variable. |
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What is known in the scientific literature about the impact of the administrative support for transgenders (Intervention) on preventing incidence of discriminatory violence or bullying (outcome) ? |
It explores the causality between another intervention method and the ideal outcome. The question also critically examines the academic evidence. |
V - References:
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2018, November 6). 2071.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia - Stories from the Census, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Sex%20and%20Gender%20Diversity%20in%20the%202016%20Census~100
Stolzenberg, E. B., & Hughes, B. (2017). The Experiences of Incoming Transgender College Students: New Data on Gender Identity. Liberal Education, 103(2), n2.