How research reviews can lead to new insights, even in challenging contexts
Before diving into reporting, we try understanding the community we aim to serve. That's why we began with a comprehensive research review, an essential step to glean insights from existing studies and save time and effort. By immersing ourselves in prior research, we gained a foundational understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by migrant workers in China.
We employed a quantified method to analyze related research, which revealed underlying trends and patterns about the economic, social, and political changes influencing their lives. This revealed underlying trends and patterns related to the economic, social, and political changes influencing migrant workers' lives. This macro-level view helped us identify critical areas for further exploration and revealed gaps and challenges in existing research, signifying potential opportunities for our project.
Key points that emerge from our research review include:
A shift in focus from general migrant worker populations to specific subgroups, particularly the "new generation" of migrant workers born after 1980.
The growing importance of digital technologies in shaping migrant workers' information behaviors, despite persistent digital divides.
Significant gaps between information needs and satisfaction rates across various domains, including employment, rights protection, and health information.
The complex interplay between rural and urban information environments in migrant workers' lives.
The surprising role of public libraries and other social institutions in meeting migrant workers' information needs.
While research review methodologies vary greatly depending on the target group and context, our process of translating it into insights can offer valuable inspiration for the initial phase of audience research. This approach can open up new perspectives and possibilities for other projects.
Quantified analysis of research reveals historical trends and key focuses
We conducted a quantitative analysis of existing studies. This involved examining both the volume and focus of research to identify broader trends and shifts in attention over time.
This historical perspective is crucial for understanding the evolving nature of migrant worker needs. By tracing how research priorities have shifted over time, we can identify emerging trends, persistent challenges, and areas where interventions are most needed.
Accessing and managing sources
Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) is the largest database of academic journals in China. The platform supports search for keywords and filters by multiple factors.
However, accessing CNKI from outside China presented some challenges. The IP blocking of foreign addresses and identification authentication process poses obstacles for foreign researchers. Using VPN makes this far less likely to happen. We also used public library portals for easier, free access. In cases where direct access remains problematic, we recommend engaging local ventures who offer CNKI access as service.
To ensure the long-term availability of critical materials, consider implementing a robust document saving and management system. Maintaining a source database allows us to quickly revisit key findings, compare data points, and identify gaps that require further investigation.
Bibliometric analysis
Bibliometric analysis of the CNKI database revealed significant trends in the volume of research related to migrant workers. We tracked the number of publications on certain keywords over the past two decades to understand the broader trajectory of research in this area.
We found that the volume of information need-related studies on migrant workers has experienced a marked decline since 2013, a bibliometric analysis of the database suggests.
This trend is part of a broader pattern, with research on migrant workers and information needs showing downward trajectories beginning in 2009 and 2014, respectively.
However, the proportion of information-related studies within the broader field of migrant worker research has actually increased from 10% to approximately 30% over the past two decades.
This may suggest a growing recognition of the importance of information in understanding the migrant worker experience, even as overall research volume has decreased.
Keyword frequency
Analysis of keyword frequency provides insight into the evolving focus of research. "New generation migrant workers" appeared as a keyword 93 times in the literature, while "migrant workers" appeared 148 times, indicating a significant focus on this demographic distinction.
Library-related journals appear to be the primary platforms for publishing research on migrant workers' information needs. One study identified "Library," "Library Science," "Library Forum," and "Library Theory and Practice" as core journals in the field, accounting for a significant portion of the publications.
Other research looked predominantly at government messaging efforts, and most only in passing looked at media as key suppliers in meeting information demand.
A closer look in methodologies informs evolution, gaps, and biases in research
The methodological approaches employed in studying migrant workers' information needs have diversified, reflecting a growing recognition of the complex, contextual nature of information behaviors and broader opportunities for research.
Early research primarily relied on straightforward survey methodologies, focusing on quantifying needs and satisfaction levels across various information categories. As the field has matured, researchers have increasingly adopted mixed-method approaches that combine quantitative data with rich qualitative insights.
Recent studies have employed innovative techniques to gather data:
Comparative experiments: A 2019 study used Morae user testing software to collect search behavior data, comparing 20 migrant workers with 20 college students to analyze online information searching behaviors.
Snowball sampling and workplace integration: A 2019 study negotiated with factory managers to distribute questionnaires along with team leaders, asking respondents to include their employee numbers. They also used snowball sampling through business owners' networks.
Seasonal opportunities: A 2021 study took advantage of the Spring Festival, when migrant workers return to their hometowns, to collect questionnaire data and conduct in-depth interviews.
Collaboration with health services: A 2021 study collaborated with a community health service center to conduct surveys, free clinics, and follow-up visits, integrating health service provision with research.
Virtual ethnography: A 2023 study employed internet ethnography, observing migrant workers in WeChat groups to understand their social media use and hometown identity.
These methodological innovations reflect efforts to overcome challenges in accessing migrant worker populations and to capture the nuanced, context-dependent nature of their information behaviors.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist in standardizing research approaches. The lack of standardized segmentation methods for categorizing migrant workers' information needs makes it difficult to draw robust comparisons across studies or to identify clear trends over time.
Identify key focus areas in research
With the research review, we found that migrant workers' information needs have coalesced around several key focus areas, reflecting the diverse challenges and opportunities faced by this population. To systematically analyze these areas, we:
Summarized focus areas through keywords: This allowed us to quickly identify and categorize the main themes emerging from the research.
Recorded key data points from research: We noted important statistics and findings to provide evidence and context for each focus area.
Linked findings back to the original journal: This ensured traceability and facilitated revisiting the original source for further information.
Through this process, we identified the following key focus areas:
Employment and skill training: Multiple studies have highlighted the importance of employment information for migrant workers. A 2013 study in Shaanxi by Jing found that 63.2% of new-generation migrant workers needed daily life information, but only 35.7% were satisfied with what they received.
Rights protection and legal information: The same Shaanxi study found a significant gap between need (59.6%) and satisfaction (22.3%) regarding personal rights information among new-generation migrant workers. A study in the Pearl River Delta found that 40% of new-generation migrant workers considered rights protection information urgently needed, compared to only 14% of the older generation.
Health information: A survey in Shaanxi showed that more than 50% of new-generation migrant workers require health information, yet only 33% are satisfied with the information they receive. Specific health concerns include prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as pneumoconiosis, etc.
Media usage and digital behavior: Research has shown that over 80% of migrant workers work 8-12 hours a day, with the most common mobile phone usage being 5-6 hours per day. Media usage falls into two categories: using fragmented time during breaks for entertainment or news consumption, and using social media while working for background noise and companionship.
Rural-urban connections: Migrant workers tend to be more forgiving toward hometown media, with 42.2% believing that integrated media from their home counties is attentive to local issues, compared to only 16.8% of those still living within the county. They show more interest in rural policies than in national matters, particularly focusing on the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme, agricultural subsidies, and elderly support programs.
Gender dynamics: A 2016 study on new-generation female migrant workers in Shaanxi revealed unique information needs, including high demand for entertainment information (75.5%), beauty and health information (69.2%), and information on preventing sexual assault (68.6%).
Entrepreneurship information: The demand for entrepreneurship information among new-generation migrant workers in Shaanxi is 46%, with an overall cautious attitude. Satisfaction with this type of information is less than 30%. A study on Baoding migrant workers showed that key information needs for returning entrepreneurs include government policies, financial information, and sales channels.
Focus on quality, not quantity
As an important step of building sufficient empathy to the community, the success of research review is measured not by the volume of data collected, but by the quality of insights gained. We aim to challenge or confirm pre-existing assumptions, discover unexpected insights, and develop a "gut feeling" of sufficient understanding. The focus is on building empathy rather than achieving complete or perfect knowledge.
Throughout this process, we remained mindful of the need to critically evaluate the confidence level of each data point. By considering factors such as sample size, methodology, and potential biases in each study, we aimed to prevent over-reliance on findings with low confidence levels. This critical approach ensured that our insights were built on a solid foundation of reliable and robust data.
Furthermore, we recognize that research review is part of an iterative process. We anticipate revisiting our review as our project progresses and new information becomes available. New research reviews focused on more specific areas may also be needed in the later phases of our research to address emerging questions and refine our understanding.
By prioritizing quality over quantity and maintaining a critical perspective throughout our research review, we are confident that we have established a strong foundation for understanding the information needs of our target community.
