Cultural diversity is a reality that researchers have to consider as they conduct cross-cultural research. The researchers are likely to face several challenges in the cause of their study. This is due to the cultural variance of the target cultural groups. There are three primary challenges that most researchers face in the course of their research. The challenges include;
Biasness in Instrumentation and Data Collection
Biasness may threaten the validity of cross-cultural comparisons. During the study, biases may occur in different forms. For instance, bias may arise from the methodological aspects of the research, such as the instruments used by the researchers (TRANSLER, SUKUMAR, & RAO, 2008). A study instrument maybe culturally viable in a particular cultural context but not in another. The cultural differences make it challenging to develop a single tool that can be used in multiple cultures. This necessitates the researchers to develop different research instruments to fit various cultures. The development of a variety of instruments for a single study can be challenging for the researchers. It is difficult to completely eliminate biasness in cross-cultural studies.
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Translation Issues
Another challenge in the conduction of cross-cultural research is the translation of the research instruments. The effectiveness of a research instrument is dependent on the precise interpretation of the research instrument using the native language of the participants (Beins, 2019). Translation ensures the validity and reliability of the data collected from the target cultural group. Inadequate translations may lead to ambiguity, which may affect the efficiency in the data collection. Researchers are faced with the challenge of ensuring that the research instrument administered is culturally appropriate to ensure the reliability of the data collected.
Ethical Issues and Considerations
Cross-cultural research must uphold ethical standards to ensure the integrity and validity of the research findings. The ethical guidelines provide that the participants are well informed about the data collection process. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent from the participants, are crucial in cross-cultural studies. Failure to follow the ethical guidelines may invalidate the research findings. Some of the ethical issues may vary across cultures. The ethical codes and guidelines may be inadequate in addressing some ethical dilemmas. The researchers must, therefore, understand the cultural values and norms of different cultures to address some ethical issues (Halder, Binder, Stiller, & Gregson, 2016). This can be particularly challenging to the researchers as they may often get into ethical dilemmas in the course of their studies.
The challenge of translation can be overcome by engaging a native language speaker in the translation of the research instruments. This ensures adequate adaptation of the tools considering cultural variance and also the inclusion of vital cultural elements in the instrument. The challenge can also be overcome by involving more individuals who are conversant with the languages used by the target cultures to arrive at a consensus on the best instrument to use in the research.
References
Beins, B. C. (2019). Methodological and Conceptual Issues in Cross ‐ Cultural Research. Cross ‐ Cultural Psychology: Contemporary Themes and Perspectives , 59-81.
Halder, M., Binder, J., Stiller, J., & Gregson, M. (2016). An overview of the challenges faced during cross ‐ cultural research. Enquire, (8) , 1-18.
TRANSLER, C., SUKUMAR, P., & RAO, K. (2008). Adapting a cognitive test for a different culture: An illustration of qualitative procedures.
