May 6 - 8, 2002
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Providing Culturally Competent Disability Services
to Persons Born in other Countries May 6 - 8, 2002 |
Culture and research: Seeking a happy medium
Mulholland, S.
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
susan.mulholland@ualberta.ca
Abstract
Conducting research within a different cultural context presents many interesting challenges. For example, differing perceptions of privacy, authority, and intellectual property can challenge the basic essence and assumptions of research as we know it in Western cultures. When conducting cross-cultural research, one is forced to question basic assumptions, and strive to find a research approach that will blend the cultural expectations appropriately. This presentation will be a review of the literature fo cusing on differences that may be encountered during cross-cultural research. Various strategies for blending cultural expectations will be discussed. These points will be illustrated with anecdotes and examples from research projects conducted in India a nd other countries.