Assessment 2: Research Report 2

Task/Topic: How does cultural background relate to the nature of partnerships?

Generative AI tools cannot be used in this assessment task

In this assessment, you must not use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to generate any materials or content in relation to the assessment task

Worth: 30%

Length: 1,200 words (excluding references and tables)

Due date: Week 9, Friday 9 May at 11:55pm

Database: 2021 Census of Population and Housing/Census TableBuilder Pro/2021 Census - Counting persons, 15 years and over [https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/microdata-tablebuilder/tablebuilder]. Watch this Youtube video (from minute 14) for How to Use Tablebuilder.

Description

In this assessment, we examine if and how ancestry (an indicator for culture) is associated  with partnership types. In some cultures where cohabitation is not encouraged, individuals may remain never married/single until they are married.

In particular, you will explore how the likelihood of living in a cohabitation or de facto relationship compared to living in a married relationship differs by ethnic background (Chinese, Indian, Arab, and British). Additionally, if these partnership patterns vary by gender. Using Tablebuilder Pro, you will extract the following from the 2021 Australian census for the age group 25-39, for four culturally diverse groups: Chinese, Indian, Arab, and British.

Step 1: Create Ancestry groups in Tablebuilder: Use ANC 1P Ancestry 1 response [under ‘Cultural diversity,]

1) ANC 1P Ancestry 1 response/Southern and Central Asian/Southern Asian

•     Create an “Indian” group by combining 15 subgroups including: Anglo-Indian;

Bengali; Gujarati; Indian; Malayali; Punjabi; Sikh; Fijian Indian; Kashmiri; Parsi; Sindhi; Sri Lankan Tamil; Indian Tamil; Tamil, nfd; Telugu

2) ANC 1P Ancestry 1 response/North-West European/British

•     Create a “British” group by combining 7 subgroups including: British, nfd; English; Scottish; Welsh; Channel Islander; Manx; British, nec

3) ANC 1P Ancestry 1 response/North-East Asian/Chinese Asian

•     Create a “Chinese” group by combining 4 subgroups including: Chinese Asian, nfd; Chinese; Taiwanese; Chinese Asian,nec

4) ANC 1P Ancestry 1 response/North African and Middle Eastern/Arab

•     Create a “Arab” group by combining 19 subgroups including: Arab, nfd; Algerian;    Egyptian; Iraqi; Jordanian; Kuwaiti; Lebanese; Libyan; Moroccan; Palestinian; Saudi Arabian; Syrian; Tunisian; Yemeni; Bahraini; Emirati; Omani; Qatari; Arab, nec

Step 2: Create Age group in Tablebuilder: [Found in AGEP Age: under, age and Sex]

1)   Create one group which includes ages 25-39 by combining the relevant subgroups of each age found in AGEPAge.

Step 3: Formulate tables for Relationships by Ancestry: Use MDCP Social Marital Status and MSTP Registered Martial status [under Relationships and Children]

1) Run the required table for Registered Marital Status variable (column) by Ancestry (row)

•     Under Registered Marital Status include subgroups: Married, Separated and Divorced

•     Next, add the age group to column: Use custom group 25-39 years

2) Run the required table for Social Marital Status (column) by Ancestry (row);

•     Under Social Marital Status include subgroups: Married in de facto marriage and not married

•     Next, add the age group to column: Use custom group 25-39 years

•     Then, “filter” by the “never married” variable in MSTP Registered Marital status

3) In Excel combine tables from the previous 2 steps above in excel into one table. Then also combine together the Divorced and Separated columns to make a Divorced/Separated category

•     After step 3 your rows should include the four ethnic groups

•     After step 3 your columns should include four categories: Married,  Divorced/Separated, Married in de facto marriage and Not Married

•     Then, calculate the appropriate percentages adding these values into the table. From these percentages you will create relevant bar charts

4) The above steps must be repeated for Sex

•     Whilst completing the above steps again, at steps 1 and 2 add both male and female variables into the Column straight either after the age bracket is added

•     Once tables (including sex) are combined in excel your rows should include the four ethnic groups

•     Also this table should have 8 columns; Married (Male), Married (Female),

Divorced/Separated (Male), Divorced/Separated (Female), Married in de facto marriage (Males), Married in de facto marriage (Females), Not Married (Males) and Not Married (Females)

•     Now separate this table into two tables. One with the male data and one with female data - this will make it easier to add into your essay report.

5) Formatting tables and graphs

•     Once completed you will have 3 tables that must be included in your essay report

o  Table 1: 4 Ancestry variables (rows) by the 4 Relational variables (column); age (25-39) (column)

o  Table 2: 4 Ancestry variables (rows) by the 4 Relational

variables (column); age (25-39) (column); Sex (Male) (column)

o  Table 3: 4 Ancestry variables (rows) by the 4 Relational

variables (column); age (25-39) (column); Sex (Female) (column)

•     You may also include relevant graphs to support your work, these will not be included in the word count

Step 4: Write up the findings Structure

1. Introduction: Using the literature, argue how the partnership pattern has changed globally and in the west (and Australia). Provide a succinct portrayal of the socio-demographic patterns in marriage and cohabitation in the west, in particular Australia. The socio-demographic variables should include gender, generation and culture with a particular focus on what the literature says about the relationship between cultural background and cohabitation (300-350 words)

2. Data and method: provide a brief description of which data you have used and how you have defined variables of interest for analytical purpose (for example, how you have combined age and incorporated sex). (100-150 words)

3. Findings: Clearly and succinctly, describe and interpret what each table shows. Use the percentages selectively to highlight the broad patterns (commonality and/or differences). (400-500 words)

4. Discussion and conclusion: Briefly restate the key findings, and discuss them in relation to the literature (supports or deviates, for example). Finish the section off with a sentence or two that directly answers the question for this assessment (150-200 words).

Completing the above steps will result in three comprehensive tables which you will include in your report. Relevant supporting graphs can be used to support your analysis.

Students must use a minimum of 7 references. The references can be academic journals, research reports or books (not news articles, blogs, encyclopaedia entries or social media opinions).