Toward a culturally anchored ecological framework of research in ethnic‐cultural communities

Abstract

Proposed a research framework (the "cube" model) in which community psychologists working in ethnic-cultural communities can make appropriate decisions on conceptual and methodological issues from a culturally anchored, ecological-contextualist perspective. The intent of the model is to articulate ethnic-cultural heterogeneity in community research by elucidating three metamethodological issues: (a) definition of an ethnic-cultural community, (b) applicability of cross-cultural theories and methods to ethnic-cultural community research, and (c) geographical or ecological stability of an ethnic-cultural community. The model posits that ethnic-cultural community research can be conceptualized as a three-dimensional structure that represents an interaction among research questions, methods, and cultural complexity (referring to the extent to which an ethnic-cultural group is defined in a larger ecological context or community both at the individual and collective levels). Future directions for research were discussed in terms of the utility and the limitations of the proposed research model.

Using surname-based telephone survey methodology in Asian-American communities: Practical issues and caveats

“…Sasao, 1994). Also, when supplemented with other qualitative methods (e.g., case study, focus group approach, community forum, participant observation), findings from telephone surveys in AA communities gain more strength in advancing our empirical knowledge base (Maton, 1993;Sasao & Sue, 1993).…”

Methodological issues in conducting research with refugee women: Principles for recognizing and re‐centering the multiply marginalized

“…Many researchers work towards developing accurate cultural understandings, creating guidelines for the construction of valid cross-cultural measures, obtaining accurate translation, achieving representative sampling, and conducting appropriate data analyses~e.g., Cauce et al, 1998;Cavusgil & Das, 1997;Lyons & Chryssochoou, 2000;McGorry, 2000;Peregrine et al, 1993;Pernice, 1994;Rogler, 1999;Sasao & Sue, 1993;Suzuki et al, 1999;Takooshian et al, 2001;Van de Vijver & Leung, 1997;Yelland & Gifford, 1995;Zea et al, 2003!. Although these efforts to conduct culturally appropriate research have varied in their success, issues of gender in this research rarely have been sufficiently addressed. Specifically, gender often is treated in a cursory manner that does not adequately acknowledge the complex role it plays in research with marginalized populations.…”

“…and improvement of quantitative methods to more accurately take cultural and linguistic differences into account~e.g., Cauce, Coronado, & Watson, 1998;Cavusgil & Das, 1997;Lyons & Chryssochoou, 2000;McGorry, 2000!. In addition, recent research has emphasized cultural competency~e.g., Hughes, Seidman, & Williams, 1993;Pernice, 1994;Sasao & Sue, 1993!, participant involvement~e.g., Hughes, Seidman, & Williams, 1993!, and the adequate methodological and analytical representation of cultural differences~e.g., Greenfield, 1997;Takooshian, Mrinal, & Mrinal, 2001; Van der Vijver & Leung, 1997;Zea, Reisen, & Diaz, 2003!. One important advance has been the recognition of the importance of using methods that do not assume that individuals from different cultural backgrounds share linguistic and conceptual meanings and understandings. Thus, qualitative methods have been used to cast light on the ways in which meaning is constructed within various cultural contexts~e.g., Suzuki et al, 1999!.…”

A Participatory Study of School Dropout and Behavioral Health of Latino Adolescents

“…23,[42][43][44][45][46] The participatory approach led to specific cultural adaptations to increase appropriateness and relevance to the local Latino population. 23,[45][46][47][48] The study was designed and carried out through a dropout committee that included bilingual/ bicultural members of the Latino Coalition and the research team. 41,[43][44][45][46][47][48] The study design followed a focus group approach for group interviewing that incorporated multiple perspectives of Latino students and fit into the relatively short timeline of the study.…”