Cross-Cultural studies

Question 1

AO1/Description

Answer 1

• We would use the same procedure from the one investigation
• We would conduct the same study in more than one country to see how they compare
• Comparisons can be made to see if behaviour is universal/nature or nurture
• Allows us to establish whether a particular childhood behaviour is due to biological/evolutionary or environmental factors. If it is found to be universal it is probably due to nature and if not it is due to nurture
• It is useful because different findings suggest that the patients behaviour is not universal but affected by cultural conditions/social norms
• Reduces ethnocentric bias in research/ bringing in other cultural views it reduces one sided views of behaviour

Question 2

AO3: Strengths

Answer 2

• Allows us to establish whether a particular childhood behaviour is due to biological/evolutionary or environmental factors 1st mark) If it is found to be universal it is probably due to nature and if not it is due to nurture (2nd mark)
• Reduces ethnocentric bias in research/ bringing in other cultural views it reduces one sided views of behaviour
• Can suggest more suitable tools to measure a behaviour, e.g. attachment in different cultures, as appropriate
• Universality allows us to apply theories of human behaviour more widely and be sure of their application to everyone
• Conducting research in other countries ensures better generalisability of findings/theory

Question 3

AO3: Weaknesses

Answer 3

• Research tools may not apply i.e. a method in one culture might not be ecologically valid/applicable in another
• May have an imposed etic where we assume a behaviour is ‘normal’ and this causes us to interpret behaviours differently
• May overlook cultural differences as we are not part of that culture (we don’t fully understand)
• Subcultures may not be represented in sample because we are unaware of them