Cross-cultural research

This chapter presents an overview of cross-cultural research from the perspective of outsider researchers and insider experts. For the outsiders, such research is fraught with ethical challenges associated with working in another country where the researchers may not know the language or customs. For the insiders who have a role in collecting, translating, and transcribing data, there are significant issues associated with ensuring that data interpretation matches their own understanding. Drawing on a project undertaken in Bangladesh, the paper outlines factors associated with completing such a project. Cross-cultural projects require researchers to be critically aware of their positionality, understand the significance of researcher visibility, and be aware of differential power relations. The chapter has two parts – Part A by…