Culturally Appropriate Research Methods
Research is an important aspect of psychology, and global psychology is no exception. However, the most common research methods in the Western world often do not address the unique needs of different cultures. As a result, many psychologists who work internationally or have a global perspective favor culturally sensitive methods that better recognize diverse countries, cultures, and people. Culturally sensitive research methods employed by psychologists with a global perspective usually are qualitative, while Western psychologists often employ quantitative approaches. Quantitative approaches emphasize cause and effect and reflect a traditional scientific method. Quantitative methods also are objective and value statistical analyses. Qualitative methods allow more subjectivity and often involve observation and interviews that are difficult to quantify. Recently, many Western psychologists have increased their acceptance of qualitative methods or blending quantitative and qualitative methods (mixed methods). However, even in the realm of qualitative methods, psychologists have identified some methods that are more appropriate than others in satisfying the needs of their discipline. Your course text explains four specific, culturally appropriate research methods: action theory, discourse analysis, grounded theory, and focus groups.
Despite global psychology’s preference for culturally appropriate qualitative methods, most peer review committees of professional journals publish studies that use traditional quantitative methods. This is true even for the International Psychology Bulletin, a journal published by the American Psychological Association’s International Psychology Division ound at https://div52.org/, under, Publications, Newsletter, Past Issues.. Thus, psychologists who work internationally or globally continue to encourage researchers to apply culturally appropriate methods.
To prepare for this assignment:
Review Chapter 7 in your textbook, Toward a Global Psychology: Theory, Research, Intervention, and Pedagogy.
Think about culturally appropriate research methods, such as action theory, discourse analysis, grounded theory, and focus groups.
Review several editions of the International Ps
