About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about methods for studying culture, focusing in particular on: (i) the implementation of both quantitative and qualitative methods in cultural research; (ii) Greenfield and colleagues’ 2003 research, using surveys to record data, into changes in culture over time and across generations; (iii) Greenfield’s challenges when attempting to survey Zinacantec Maya people; (iv) understanding emic and etic perspectives in the context of cultural research; (v) a key problem with cultural research from an etic perspective being the potential for researchers to not recognise potential problems with research methods when working with people from other cultures; (vi) issues around language and translation when using surveys in research; (vii) social desirability bias as a key bias which can negatively affect the validity of cross-cultural research, particularly when using surveys; (viii) acquiescence bias, reported as the tendency for participants to agree with the researcher and the research resources; (ix) contrasting universalist and relativist perspectives.

About the lecturer

Dr Sam Parker is a senior lecturer in social psychology in the Department of Health and Social Sciences at the University of the West of England, after moving from a lecturing position at Birmingham City University. Dr Parker’s research interests are in discursive psychology, forced migration and sexuality. Some of Dr Parker’s recent publications include ‘Just eating sleeping: Asylum seekers’ constructions of belonging within a restrictive policy environment’ (2018) and ‘It’s ok if it’s hidden: The discursive construction of everyday racism for refugees and asylum seekers in Wales’ (2018).