Fang-tan in research among Chinese communities in New Zealand and Australia:a cultural approach to engagement

ABSTRACT

This article proposes Fang-tan as a cultural approach to engagement in psychology research among Chinese communities in New Zealand and Australia. Fang-tan reflects the degree of “being-in-relation” throughout the research process. The article suggests that being-in-relation as a concept is a form of cultural engagement that enables the researcher easier and more culturally appropriate access to research participants. Fang-tan comprises two Chinese words, Fang and Tan. Fang refers to interviewing and asking questions, and Tan is concerned with dialogues and conversation. There are four features of Fang-tan: participant participation, the equality of status between the researcher and the participant, the insider relationship between the researcher and the participant, and the use of the Chinese language. This article illustrates how Fang-tan was conducted in three studies with the Chinese communities and offers the authors’ insights into and reflections on conducting Fang-tan.

KEYWORDS:

• being-in-relation
• Chinese culture
• community engagement
• engagement
• empowerment
• Fang-tan

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wendy Li

Wendy Li is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at James Cook University, Australia. She is also a visiting professor of Shanxi University and Taiyuan Psychiatric Hospital in China. Her research interests include aging, migration, intercultural romantic relationships, intergroup relations, and problem gambling.

Amy Forbes

Amy Forbes is a senior lecturer in communications and journalism. Her current research interests are intergenerational and intercultural communication, gaming and social capital formation, and news media criminology.