Cross-Cultural Research: Methodological Challenges in Translating Meanings and Cultural Codes

Researchers in anthropology and psychology conducting cross-cultural comparative studies face a range of complex methodological challenges which significantly impact the validity and reliability of their findings. Paramount among these are issues related to the accurate translation of culturally specific concepts across diverse linguistic frameworks, as well as the difficulties associated with what Thomas Hylland Eriksen termed the “translation of non-verbal acts.” The objective of this study is to analyze methodological approaches aimed at optimizing intercultural professional discourse, focusing on the precision of specialized terminology translation and the effective interpretation of non-verbal communication. This article delineates the historical trajectory of these methodological concerns, beginning with contributions from evolutionary anthropologists and progressing through to contemporary large-scale cross-cultural research initiatives. The primary methodological challenges can be categorized into three interrelated areas: (1) the semantically and contextually adequate translation of cultural concepts, which necessitates nuanced interpretative frameworks; (2) the mitigation of ethnocentric biases that may distort data interpretation; and (3) the contextualization of findings within indigenous cultural norms rather than the imposition of universal standards rooted in Western paradigms. Current advancements in cross-cultural psychology and anthropology increasingly emphasize research conducted in nonWestern societies, highlighting cultural variability and establishing new benchmarks for assessing the cross-cultural validity of data. This article draws upon the authors’ ethnographic research and presents specific case studies, including a large-scale international project on COVID-19 involving respondents from 23 countries, to illustrate methodological obstacles and explore potential solutions, such as back-translation techniques. Additionally, the authors examine how globalization influences linguistic and cultural boundaries – often eroding traditional distinctions and resulting in homogenization – while simultaneously fostering a heightened awareness and assertion of local cultural identity. Thus, this synthesis aims to contribute to ongoing scholarly discourse by proposing refined strategies for enhancing cross-cultural research rigor, with particular attention to linguistic translation, interpretative bias mitigation, and culturally sensitive analytical paradigms.

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