Discussing moral goods and confronting research fetish: Review of Chirkov’s (2016) “Fundamentals of research on culture and psychology: Theory and methods”

Abstract

We review Valery Chirkov’s “Fundamentals of research on culture and psychology: Theory and methods.” The book is written as a textbook, but clearly takes a position that work in culture and psychology should be “problem-oriented, realist, and case-based” (p. 299). It is an innovative piece that covers philosophical paradigms, planning research, and conducting research. Our review outlines main claims made by the book that are likely provocative to mainstream variable-based research and ones that will likely challenge cultural psychologists. Despite the provocations, we argue that the book is an excellent place to start because, as illustrated through the work of Charles Taylor, Chirkov insinuates generative conversations about moral goods. A complimentary discussion through the purview Slavoj Žižec shows how Chirkov promotes awareness of a potential fetish with research methods that are counter productive and unethical.