Discussion 5

Critically think about ethnocentrism, culture, and how these concepts impact research. Familiarize yourself with the objectives in Module 5 as well as the assigned course materials, videos, articles, and introduction. Use the assigned readings for this week as a primary reference as well as material from the Saint Leo Online Library for peer reviewed sources and to find relevance to this week’s topic. Please share your information with our classmates on this thread.

Questions:

1. Define culture, ethnocentrism and social construction. What are ways in which ethnocentrism can be avoided when conducting research? What core values or ethical principles are violated when ethnocentrism is not avoided and is included in research in the form of a bias?

2. How does avoiding ethnocentrism and including diversity in one’s research positively impact the quality of one’s work? How will you use what you have learned about diversity and ethnocentrism in your own life both as a student and in a future career in the field of psychology?

Articles to read:

Marshall, A., & Batten, S. (2004). Researching across cultures: Issues of ethics and power. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 5. Retrieved from /article/view/572/1241

Medin, D. L., & Lee, C. D. (2012). Presidential column. Diversity makes better science. Observer, 25. Retrieved from . psychologicalscience.org/ index.php/publications/ observer/2012/may-june-12/diversity-makes-better-science.html

Redding, R. E. (2001). Sociopolitical diversity in psychology: The case for pluralism. American Psychologist, 56(3), 205-215. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.205