Tapping into secrets of a success story

By CATHERINE MASTERS

How does a family measure success? Different cultures have different ideas of what success means but no one has ever asked for definitions - until now.

An Auckland University study aims to find out how disadvantaged New Zealand families achieve and define success - often against the odds.

"We are studying the personal lives and environmental factors that lead to success in socio-economically disadvantaged Pacific and palagi [European] families," says researcher Dr Robyn Dixon.

Dr Dixon is working with the Auckland University Centres for Child and Family Policy Research and Pacific Studies.

The study will eventually involve more than 100 families.

The first part, which is an investment by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, will focus on Samoan, Tongan and Cook Islanders living in New Zealand.

An advisory group of elders from Pacific communities will define success, identify successful Pacific Island families and ensure that the research methods are culturally appropriate.

"What we don't know and what we suspect is that notions of success in other cultures are very different to ours, or may be very different to ours," Dr Dixon says.

"That is why the first phase of the study is very much about not trying to impose our notions of success but to say, 'Okay, you tell us what in your culture and your community is seen as successful outcomes for families.'

"The other thing is their notion of family may well be very different and, in fact, we do know that they have different notions of family and what constitutes family than we do.

"It's quite ground-breaking this research in that we actually are starting from scratch in many cases, because we had nothing to go on."

There may be more in common between Pacific Island groups about what constitutes success than there would be between the European community and Pacific Island communities. "So I think that's where we might find bigger differences, but who knows?"

The project should be completed by the middle of next year. The Pacific Island phase should be finished by the end of this year.

After training, Samoan, Tongan and Cook Island researchers will then encourage six focus groups to explore the notions of success.

Dr Dixon believes the results of the study may help shape informed policy "in terms of being able to do something for people."