title: Researching in Collectivist Cultures: Reflections and Recommendations.
abstract: Commonalities are presented from the experiences of U.S. nurse researchers who conducted studies in India, Jordan, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Trinidad and Tobago. While planning research, it is important to engage collaborators who are members of the culture to be studied to understand what are culturally appropriate aims and methods. It is also vital to observe cultural etiquette, especially while gaining entrée and collecting data. Issues related to data collection include timing it around local holidays and events, and adapting individualist methods for obtaining consent and data to be more respectful for those in a collectivist culture. Care must be taken to give back, to sharing findings, and insure sustainability for future research in the host culture. Based on these and other reflections, recommendations are offered to support investigators planning research in a culture that is not their own.
authors.affiliation: 1 Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: 2 California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ahlam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jadalla
authors.affiliation: 1 Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jones-Oyefeso
authors.affiliation: 1 Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winslow
authors.affiliation: 1 Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Johnston
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*
keywords: culture; data collection; research; social sciences