Methodological Problems and Policy Implications in Vietnamese Refugee Research

Abstract

This article is written with two objectives: First, to describe some of the critical methodological problems encountered in our research with Vietnamese refugees in San Diego, California, about which few studies have been conducted previous to their arrival in 1975. Second, to discuss the policy implications of research beset with these difficulties, some of which are unique to studies of refugee populations per se, while others are common to research on small ethnic minorities in general. This article focuses on four major issues: the quality of refugee studies; the purpose and functions of such research; the ethical dilemmas of studying refugees; and public policy implications of refugee research. Recommendations are offered to resolve some of these issues which would call for policy changes both in the ways refugee research are conducted, and in the training of researchers themselves.