2023 HDR Curtin round - Coping strategies or ignorance? – impacts of place attachment on migration behaviour in natural disaster-prone areas of South Asia

Curtin University, Australia

Updated: over 1 year ago
Location: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

Status: Open

Applications open: 8/07/2022
Applications close: 18/08/2022

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About this scholarship

There is a growing academic interest to understand how communities in natural disaster-prone areas make a choice between relocation or staying back. Migration from high-risk areas to low-risk areas is a common coping strategies identified in disaster literature (Adams, 2016). More recent evidence shows that residents in risk-prone areas may deny the decision to relocate. Such paradox has stemmed out from higher level of place-based (sense of place and place identity) attributes and interpersonal relationships (Swapan & Sadeque, 2021). It is contended that place-based and psychological attributes can be potential parameters contributing to individual’s risk perceptions and coping strategies. Several studies in developed countries suggest that place attachment undermines risk perceptions and encourage non-migration. However, there is lack of studies in the developing countries such as in South Asia to understand the link between place attachment and migration behaviour. South Asian countries suffer from aggravated vulnerabilities due to frequent natural disaster, widespread poverty, limited resource endowment and lack of institutional support. Dandy, Horwitz, Campbell, Drake, and Leviston (2019) called for a more context specific research to understand such relationships. To contribute to this research gap, the project aims to empirically investigate the direct and indirect mediating roles of place-based and psychological attributes on migration behaviour in southwestern coastal areas in Bangladesh and India.
Key Objectives
• Develop a conceptual framework to examine the mediating role of place attachment on migration behaviour
• Investigate physical vulnerability and interpersonal relationships in natural disaster-prone areas
• Empirically test direct and indirect mediating roles of place attachment on migration behaviour using structural equation modelling
• Develop community design guidelines and policy response for effective coping strategies based on migration behaviour.
The study will utilise a mix-method approach using both qualitative data (interviews and case studies) and quantitative data to compare significance various statistical models.


The output of this project will be useful in (re)defining the relationships of place attachment and decision to relocate in developing countries’ context. Moreover, they have potential contribution to enhance community resilience and to determine appropriate institutional support disaster preparedness and post-disaster recovery.   
 

An Internship opportunity may also be available with this project.


Adams, H. (2016). Why populations persist: mobility, place attachment and climate change. Population and Environment, 37(4), 429-448. 
Dandy, J., Horwitz, P., Campbell, R., Drake, D., & Leviston, Z. (2019). Leaving home: place attachment and decisions to move in the face of environmental change. Regional environmental change, 19(2), 615-620. 
Swapan, M. S. H., & Sadeque, S. (2021). Place attachment in natural hazard-prone areas and decision to relocate: Research review and agenda for developing countries. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 52, 101937. 

 


  • Future Students

  • Faculty of Humanities

  • Higher Degree by Research

  • Australian Citizen
  • Australian Permanent Resident
  • New Zealand Citizen
  • Permanent Humanitarian Visa
  • International Student

  • Merit Based

The annual scholarship package (stipend and tuition fees) is approx. $60,000 - $70,000 p.a.

 

Successful HDR applicants for admission will receive a 100% fee offset for up to 4 years, stipend scholarships, valued at $28,854 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3.5 years, are determined via a competitive selection process. Applicants will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2022. 

 

For detailed information, visit: Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia.


Scholarship Details

1


All applicable HDR courses


The applicant should have postgraduate degrees with distinction in urban planning/geography/development studies/environmental management, preferably from a high-ranked university.  Research experience in South Asian countries will be preferred. Evidence of scholarly publications as a lead author.

The applicant needs to have sound knowledge on quantitative and qualitative research methods. 

Experience in applying structural equation modelling and other statistical packages 


Application process

If this project excites you, and your research skills and experience are a good fit for this specific project, you should contact the Project Lead (listed below in the enquires section) via the Expression of Interest (EOI) form.


Enrolment Requirements

Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2023


Enquiries

To enquire about this project opportunity that includes a scholarship application, contact the Project lead, Dr Mohammad Swapan via the EOI form above.



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