Am doing a Phd on german colonization in northern Ghana,I interned to us cross culture analysis, ethnography and some archaeological excavation. I will be grateful if suggestion are made as to which other theories i can use.
If you choose to undertake cultural analysis, you have two key options: apply an existing framework or carry out purely inductive research.
Most previous cross-cultural studies have drawn on predetermined bipolar national culture dimensions as theoretical frameworks (see, for example, Hofstede, 1980; House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, & Gupta, 2004; Schwartz, 1994; Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1997). These dimensions are typically derived from large scale deductive/quantitative studies, but are criticized for presenting a static and deterministic view of culture.
Consequently, some researchers have called for alternative methods to cross-cultural research, drawing on interpretive/inductive/qualitative/grounded theory approaches. Given the nature of your research, it may be useful to conduct an inductive, emergent, grounded theory research rather than applying cultural dimensions or theories.
Good luck!
I recommend reading The Devil's Handwriting by George Steinmetz. It explores the German colonial state in Samoa and SW Africa.
Generally, considering culture and belief as two different phenomena, will help you in your future analysis.
Methodologically, I support what Godfried (see above) recommended. In addition, I suggest to profit from the scientific history of your topic. You'll find a sketch of it in this volume:
Stocking, G. W. (1991). Colonial Situations. Essays on the Contextualization of Ethnographic Knowledge. University of Wisconsin Press.
Am very happy with all the contributions I have looked at all of them and honestly they have being helpful. It on gion so more will be well come
Dear Kwabena,
I would recommend to use Identity Structure Analysis as metatheoretical framework for your study. See more at www.identityexploration.com
The book: Analysing Identity - Cross-Cultural, Societal and Clinical Contexts by Peter Weinreich and Wendy Saunderson (2003/2012).
Good luck!
Tarmo
Dear Kwabena, Teacher Ghana University
I wold recommend to use Identity Structure Analysis as metatheoretical framework for your study www.identityexploration.com or the book studies grup Cross-cultural, Society and Clinical contexts by Peter Weinreich and Wendy Saunderson (2003-2012)
In my research I also combined methods using ethnographic interviews, excavation and cross cultural analysis. The theory that worked best for me was historical materialism in combination with a post modern twist. Finding the link to smooth out the different theories and methods took some time. In addition, I found a case study that summed up the settlement patterns nicely once the theory section of the research worked for what I wanted to do.
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