Cross-Cultural Psychology and Anthropology - Essay Example

Problems in conducting cross-cultural- research al affiliation Problems in conducting cross-cultural research In the quest to carry out research in various fields, researchers and analysts are faced with a myriad of challenges especially in terms of validating the data collected. To be more specific, cross cultural research is intertwined with a myriad of challenges that emanate from the ethical point of research, methodological as well as the moral validity of carrying out research. The aspect of cross cultural research has caused a lot of dilemmas for the researchers in any field, with most of them at a fix on whether to accept the morality of conducting research, or relying on their own understanding of the entire concept. Ember &Ember (2001) explain that the definition of cross-cultural research cannot be reduced to an understanding of one’s culture single-handedly, but on the variations of the same culture. Most researchers tend to be inclined towards their own culture, not considering the validity and credibility of their own cultures. If the research has to correct the existing norms in the society, analysts indicate that researchers must not lean on the understanding of their own culture, or imply meanings that emanate from their cultural norms in the society. Cross-cultural research and Psychology Cross-cultural research in Psychology endeavors to explain the behaviors of human beings by comparing and contrasting the same with other cultures (Bond, 2004). In this kind of research, it is evident that the researcher is tied along lines of inquisitiveness on the basis of attitude, curiosity and interest in the concerned cultures. On a practical point of view, the entire concept is seemingly an interesting one. However, the researchers must be always be cautioned on the ethical and moral challenges that come along with the subject. In the pursuit to understand human behavior, psychologists are tied along stereotypes whilst carrying out research. At most times psychologists are not aware of the stereotypes that are existent among the cultures, and how they can find their way towards validating what is factual and what is fallacial. Lack of knowledge of these stereotypes has cost the researchers a great deal of the final decisions they make regarding the research being conducted. On the other hand, most psychologists operate along operationalization lines of culture (Ratner, 2000).This means that researchers apply the concepts of culture of various cultures to one culture. This would also be termed as generalization that may result from state comparisons, religion or biological make up of individuals. In as much the research may be conducted on persons of the same gender, but with varying cultures, the results are definitely not the same. These boundaries must be scrutinized, assessed and conclusions made from the same. For instance, using the sampling method to conduct research, studies conducted by psychologists on persons from Asia do not mean that the responses are the same since theory are from the same continent. The researcher must go ahead and assess the boundaries in terms of nationality and the innate beliefs of the various groups of Asians. This should be done by categorization of the concerned key players rather than generalizing the entire concept. In this case, Ratner (2000) indicates that no group will feel oppressed or biased by the results produced. Cross-cultural research and Anthropology Anthropology deals with various issues in varying cultural and social settings. Anthropologists are mostly interested in carrying out research using ethnography as their major form of data collection and study. Just like in the case of Psychology, if cross cultural researchers on Anthropology do not account for the variations in cultures whilst conducting study, there is a great likelihood that their studies will be distorted completely or the resulted collected will not be self satisfying. Since Anthropology relates to the norms and customs of the society, whilst conducting research, the cross-cultural researcher in Anthropology must not be tied by the similarities in the languages, identity or history of a people to make conclusions (Scupin, 2002). It is of great likelihood that there may be other factors that project from the existing lineages. For instance a particular tribe may have a common ancestry, but in the course of settling to new environments, they adapted to new behaviors or even languages. In this case, if the researcher generalizes the whole concept of a tribe or group of people by virtue of being of the same culture, then the research cannot be described in totality, some ethnographic details have been deducted. Scupin (2002) warns cross-cultural analysts from differing from the regulations of research though at most times, various cultures have been indicated to have a lot of comparisons. All cultures must be visualized as self-determining variables that rely on the transformations that have taken place with time and space prior to conducting the research. In an examination that relates to language and Anthropology, the researcher must be keen to check on new forms of dialects that have taken shape in the language despite their being fluent speakers or even native speakers of the language. Anthropology, in this case, revolves around interactions and changes that must always be put into perspective by the cross cultural researchers. Cross-cultural research and Sociology As far as Sociology is concerned, cross-cultural researchers are presented with a variety of methods that are used to conduct research in the field (Hosftede, 2001). Among the methods are inclusive of field work, surveys, amongst others. Whilst conducting cross cultural research, these researchers are cautioned against being insensitive to the values, customs and the moral values of other cultures. In an attempt to understand the variations in the cultures of the variables under study, the researchers must beware of the fact that their cultures are of no utility to the current research being conducted (Hosftede, 2001). Through the technique used to collect facts, whether observations or surveys, the researcher must take an independent stand on the entire conception. For instance, if a researcher of the Western culture conducts a sociological study on the African family unit, they cannot apply their livelihood in the research being conducted. In the event that the current research is contaminated by the present culture of the researcher, the family unit under study-the African one- will be termed as out of question and one does not hold the proper values of the society or vice versa. One of the factors that may lead to problems in conducting cross cultural research and misinterpretation of findings is the fact that the functionality of various family units in the globe is not universal. The researcher must have the perception that the African family is a normal one and acceptable just like the Western family units. This will without a doubt minimize bias and aim at incorporating all the minute details that are of importance to the entire research. Conclusively, with the cross cultural researchers being presented with a lot of challenges while following a line of investigation, they must always be keen to ensure that they adhere to the ethics that underlie research to avoid biasness of data collected during research, or rather one sided facts. Regardless of the researchers being faced with major predicaments on what grounds to take whilst conducting research, cross-cultural researchers must always ensure that they remain neutral and assume their culture, though at times their cultures seem to have an upper hand in the themes under study. References Bond, H. (2004). Culture and aggression: From context to coercion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2004; 8, 62–78. Ember, C. &Ember, M. (2001). Cross-Cultural Research Methods. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. Hosftede, G. (2001). Cultures Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations Across Nations. London: SAGE. Ratner, C. (2000). Outline of a coherent, comprehensive concept of culture. Cross-Cultural Psychology Bulletin, 2000; 34, No.1 & 2, pp. 5-11. Scupin, R. (2002). Cultural Anthropology: A Global Perspective. New York: Prentice Hall. Read More