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Critical Analysis of Cross-Cultural Research
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Introduction
This paper discusses an article in the Journal of International Perspectives in Psychology.
The article entitled "De The concept of posttraumatic growth in an adult sample from Port-au-
Prince, Haiti: A mixed methods study." was written by Rich et al. (2018). The author used
mixed-methods research to examine how people with mental diseases like PTG are treated in
Haiti. For many Haitians, religious practices provide a source of solace and renewed hope in the
face of adversity. By talking to religious leaders, mental health practitioners may learn more
about the cultural setting and the unique dynamics inside a particular religious group (Rich et al.,
2018). Mental health experts and religious leaders could then tailor trauma recovery strategies to
the unique needs of their communities while also taking cultural factors into account (Rich et al.,
2018). Professionals in the mental health field will have a better chance of assisting trauma
victims by providing therapeutic services, such as treatments that may speed up the PTG process,
if they have built partnerships with religious leaders and the communities in which they live.
The purposes of the study
The goal of this research was to learn more about posttraumatic growth (PTG) among
adult Haiti earthquake survivors and its significance in helping them overcome their trauma.
Following the earthquake in Haiti, the authors conducted mixed-methods research to examine
PTG there. Based on a grounded theory methodology, this study discovered commonalities
between the perspectives of adult Haitians on the roles of external support persons or sources and
the strengths, appreciation of life, happiness, and the increased role of religion that the
participants reported as being important to their own well-being (Rich et al., 2018). A higher
emphasis on "kindness to individuals in life" and a stronger willingness to help those in need
were shown to positively affect social relationships. A higher level of empathy is a common trait
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reported by people with PTG, and our research supports that idea (Rich et al., 2018). Thus, they
have richer interpersonal experiences (Rich et al., 2018).
The problem addressed within the study.
The focus of this research is to discuss the earthquake of magnitude 7.0, which struck
close to Port-au-Prince. For Haiti, it ranks among the country's most harrowing experiences. Two
hundred thousand people perished, and many more were forced to flee their homes. Some people
had psychological effects from the earthquake, such as PTSD and depression (Rich et al., 2018).
While researchers have traditionally concentrated on the adverse outcomes of traumatic events
like natural disasters, more recent studies have emphasized the good outcomes, or rather the
strengths, that allow people and communities to recover.
Methods and Design
This research is a review because it provides an overview of the whole field by focusing
on the most important aspects of the topic and outlining how they all relate to one another. A
mixed-method approach to inquiry was adopted, incorporating elements of qualitative and
quantitative research methods, as was the case with this study. The philosophical assumptions of
the mixed method design include the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as
a combination of the two, which allows for the easy aggregation and analysis of both types of
data. Both quantitative and qualitative methods may be used depending on the type of analysis;
however, the primary focus of research will often go in one direction or the other.
Mixed analysis was chosen because it has benefits that make up for the drawbacks of
both qualitative and quantitative approaches utilized in the research. Weaknesses in the
quantitative approach analysis include a limited ability to grasp the bigger picture and prescribe
how others should act. The problem of generalizing qualitative results over a large cluster is seen
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as a weakness of the method due to the possibility of biased interpretations created by the
scientist (McGill et al., 2021). However, rather than relying only on qualitative or quantitative
methods, this research used a mixed analytic design, allowing for a more complete and thorough
comprehension of the analysis limitation (McGill et al., 2021). This is because the method
provides an explanation for the analysis's results and how the causative method works. It also
generates a great deal of contextual information and hence the construction of specialized
instruments (McGill et al., 2021).
Ethical considerations
There were two forms of ethics taken into account in the research. Utilizing human
subjects was the primary concern. Human subjects were kept safe, fundamental human rights
were respected, and informed permission was obtained from each person involved in the study.
This required participants' complete understanding of the research's processes and risks before
they agreed to take part, a process known as "informed consent," which ensured that all human
subjects participated in the study voluntarily (Rich & Sirikantraporn, 2018). The privacy and
confidentiality of the human participants were also taken into account. Human subjects should
feel safe sharing their thoughts with the study team, but their identities should be concealed. In
addition, participants had the choice of disclosing or withholding any information they deemed
relevant to the study. The researchers guaranteed their privacy while conducting the study and
kept their attention fixed on the greater good of society. Because of the importance of protecting
the subjects' identities and cultural backgrounds, these details were utterly private. The culture of
the participants was not specified in the research. The subjects were not coerced into answering
questions on the nature of their employment or the workplace's cultural norms, but they
voluntarily provided information on these topics.
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Culture within Research
Cultural competence was used by the researchers to interact with the participants,
therefore including cultural elements in the study. In order to conduct their studies, the
researchers had to be culturally competent so that they could communicate with and understand
their participants. If the researchers weren't culturally competent, they couldn't have dealt with
the group of 256 Haitians who had been exposed to the 2010 earthquake in one of the
experiments (Rich et al., 2018). Researchers' ability to successfully interact with non-English
speakers like Haitians was a direct outcome of their cultural competency. Researchers used
cultural factors and sampling to identify disparities between the groups. Most cultures place a
premium on individual achievement; therefore, the researchers were able to deduce that this was
a driving motivation for their individuals. In order to participate and recollect knowledge about
group activities that would prove relevant on the exam, the subjects must have some personal
motivation to do so.
Are there aspects of the study where researcher(s) could have better incorporated
the influence of culture in the sample, methods, analyses, or conclusion, and how?
Nevertheless, the researchers may have improved their methodologies by taking cultural
factors into account. This is so because the technique and extensive review form the basis of the
research reports. It is expected that semi-structured interviews will provide a clear viewpoint of
the small group questioned and of the rules of ethics and culture as they pertain to the research
questions posed by the qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The researcher will
get insight into the situation and the nature of the experience, as well as their thoughts on and an
appraisal of the study area, thanks to the data gleaned through the approaches used (Rich et al.,
2018).
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If the researcher(s) were allowed to improve on their research, what would you
suggest?
Researchers might employ various methods to enhance their work; for example, they may
become dissatisfied with the destructive, self-serving research procedures that undermine
accepted norms and values. If I could revise anything about this study, it would be to expand its
scope to encompass all forms of mental disease. The focus of this research is on PTG. Since
numerous research methods have been identified that, although not necessarily unethical, do not
prove wrongdoing and fall well short of responsible research conduct, it has become clear that
more needs to be done (Rich et al., 2018).
How would your suggestion facilitate positive social change?
Institutional initiatives to encourage integrity in research may be misconstrued as
evidence of a broken system or a lack of responsibility on the part of the facility doing the study.
As a result, it will raise the possibility of programs based on self-imposed institutional standards
that motivate officials to use the necessary supervision measures. However, this will contribute
to developing programs that encourage accountable research methods that may stymie individual
and departmental efforts toward common objectives (Rich et al., 2018).
References
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coping with unexpected events. Rowman & Littlefield.
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McGill, E., Er, V., Penney, T., Egan, M., White, M., Meier, P., ... & Petticrew, M. (2021).
Evaluation of public health interventions from a complex systems perspective: a research
method review.ASocial Science & Medicine,A272, 113697.
Rich, G. J., & Sirikantraporn, S. J. (2018).AHuman strengths and resilience: Developmental,
cross-cultural, and international perspectives. Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield.
Rich, G., Sirikantraporn, S., & Jean-Charles, W. (2018). The concept of posttraumatic growth in
an adult sample from Port-au-Prince, Haiti: A mixed methods study.AHuman strengths
and resilience: Developmental, cross-cultural, and international perspectives, 21-38.
