Psychological observation and norms in multicultural versus traditional research

¶ … Norms

Psychological Observations and Norms: Comparison in terms of Multicultural and Traditional Research Methodology

In the field of psychology, research methods vary significantly based on the sources of information that are focused on, how that information is samples, and the types of instruments that are used in data collection. Generally, methods vary in terms of whether they collect qualitative, quantitative data, or both. This research methodology further contains both multicultural and traditional research models. In using this methodology, one has the opportunity to research certain variables in order to pinpoint similarities, differences, strategies for dealing with patients, participants, and test-subjects, and discrepancies in the research itself. In comparing and contrasting observation and norms in terms of each type of research, for instance, it can be seen that both have a tendency to produce fundamental problems for researchers during the implementation of these variables cross-culturally.

Psychological Research Methods

In order to fully understand the problems that such research methods can produce for researchers, one must first understand the basics of the traditional research model and the multicultural research model, respectively. Traditional psychological research has been involved primarily with trying to understand the various drives and motivations behind human actions (Cline, 2010, p.1). Further, psychologist note that this attention to discrete substances and relationships means that "we arrive at generalizations about humanity, but we can lose sight of the human being we were looking at to begin with" -- the human being who makes things happen and who act within the world (Ash, Dreher & Hancock, 2006, p.315). While traditional research focuses on a more generic view of the human condition, it still seeks to gain the information necessary to understand research findings on a more scientific or "black and white" level. While traditional research seeks to pinpoint the definitive answers in its test groups in terms of how participants react to testing on a more generalized scale in terms of the human condition, multicultural research seeks to expand this by incorporating more distinctive observations on a personal participant level. This is done in hopes of gauging research results that will not only provide answers to the bigger questions that are being addressed, but assert specific answers to how these findings affect individuals from many different walks of life specifically.

In looking at the standards of multicultural research, the researcher aims to delve more deeply into the personal makeup of the researched participant than in traditional research. In undertaking multicultural research, one is taking into account a large representation of diverse cultural factors in the subjects that are being studied. Multicultural research though defined very broadly, may include research related to race, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status.

Conclusion

In viewing the research, it seems increasingly clear that while traditional research methods can be used in order to provide a basis to psychological research, a cultural approach must be taken in order to more fully gauge research in terms of the distinct differences that are found in research participants. While the standards for observing and determining norms remain based in the traditional approach, in looking at the ever-growing field of multi-cultural research and cross-cultural recognition, it is clear that these discrepancies will continue to exist until a basis for determining standards for including cultural distinctions is included in psychological research across the board. The ultimate goal of psychological research is to describe, explain, predict and control the issues or questions at hand. Until a standard for observation and norms can be set across the board in terms of research methods, it seems that the fundamental problem of discrepancy will continue to exist.