Social dynamics in complex family contexts and its study

Abstract

The prevailing patterns of social relationships within a culture are important to consider during research. Since culture is considered as constitutive for individual psyche, the manner in which research tasks are set-up also needs to appraisal in the context of prevailing social networks in any given society. This paper deals with examples of research studies among Asian Indians to describe encounters with participants during research which highlight the importance of considering and incorporating cultural patterns of interaction. Some of the simple ways of engaging with people and ideas can be achieved by keeping intuitive reactions intact and working with participants as partners in and not objects of research. Creating and following mythical rituals (like random sampling, or standardised testing) over and above the personal reality that is critical to meaningful social experiences, provides research with a sacred status; but it also distances science from everyday life, consequently defeating the very purpose for which the efforts have been undertaken. © 2009 Springer-Verlag New York.