This article highlights the inextricable relationship between research methodology, ways of knowing and culture. Issues and problems of applying western research methodology in the context of the writer’s research in Malaysia are discussed. The writer concludes that theoretical development of culturally appropriate social work practice needs to be conducted within an indigenous research paradigm.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Alatas, Syed Hussein (1972) ‘The Captive Mind in Development Studies: Some Neglected Problems and the Need for an Autonomous Social Science Tradition in Asia’, International Social Science Journal24(1): 1–16.
2.
Asante, M.K. (1987) The Afrocentric Idea. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
3.
Asante, M.K. (1988) Afrocentricity. Trenton, NJ: Africa World.
4.
Awa, N.E. (1979) ‘Ethnocentric Bias in Development Research’, in M.K. Asante, E. Newmark and C.A. Blake (eds) Handbook of Intercultural Communication. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
5.
Barth, F. (1995) ‘Other Knowledge and Other Ways of Knowing’, Journal of Anthropological Research51: 65–68.
6.
Belenky, M.F. (1986) Women’s Ways of Knowing: The Development of Self, Voice and Mind. New York: Basic Books.
7.
Briggs, C. (1986) Learning How to Ask: A Sociolinguistic Appraisal of the Role of the Interview in Social Science Research. London: Cambridge University Press.
8.
Chambers, R. (1986) Normal Professionalism, New Paradigms and Development. Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.
9.
Chambers, R. (1995) Poverty and Livelihoods: Whose Reality Counts?Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.
10.
Gold, N. and M. Bogo (1992) ‘Social Work Research in a Multicultural Society: Challenges and Approaches’, Journal of Multicultural Social Work2(4): 7–22.
11.
Gowdy, E.A. (1994) ‘From Technical Rationality to Participating Consciousness’, Social Work39(4): 362–371.
12.
Hall, E.T. (1973) The Silent Language. New York: Anchor Books.
Harding, S. (1986) The Science Question in Feminism. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
15.
Harding, S. (1991) Whose Science? Whose Knowledge?Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
16.
Hartman, A. (1990) ‘Many Ways of Knowing’, Social Work35(1): 3–4.
17.
Husband, C. (1990) ‘Social Work with Australian Multiculturalism: Conceptualising the Challenge’, in M. Clare and L. Jayasuriya (eds) Issues of Cross Cultural Practice. Nedlands, WA: University of Western Australia.
18.
Keesing, R.M. (1981) Cultural Anthropology: A Contemporary Perspective, 2nd edn.New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
19.
Kellehear, A. (1993) The Unobtrusive Researcher. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
20.
Ladner, Joyce A. (1973) The Death of White Sociology. New York: Random House.
21.
Leininger, M. M., ed. (1985) Qualitative Research Methods in Nursing. Orlando, FL: Grune & Stratton.
22.
Ling, H.K. (2001) ‘Towards Developing Culturally Appropriate Social Work Practice: Insights from a Study of Help-Seeking and Help-Giving Experiences in Sarawak, Malaysia’. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
23.
Meemeduma, P. (1993) Reshaping the Future Cultural Sense and Social Work. Paper presented at the National Social Work Conference, September, New Castle.
24.
Moore, J.W. (1973) ‘Social Constraints on Sociological Knowledge: Academics and Research Concerning Minorities’, Social Problems21: 65–77.
25.
Morrissette, V., B. Mckenzie and L. Morrissette (1993) ‘Towards an Aboriginal Model of Social Work Practice: Cultural Knowledge and Traditional Practices’, Canadian Social Work Review10(1): 91–108.
26.
Osei-Hwedie, K. (1993) ‘The Challenge of Social Work in Africa: Starting the Indigenization Process’, Journal of Social Development in Africa8(1):19–30.
27.
Padgett, D.K. (1998) Qualitative Methods in Social Work: Challenges and Rewards. New Delhi: Sage Publications.
28.
Pedersen, P. (1994) A Handbook for Developing Multi-cultural Awareness. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
29.
Peile, C. (1988) ‘The Unity of Research and Practice: Creative Practitioner Research for Social Workers’, in E. Chamberlain (ed.) Change and Continuity in Australian Social Work. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire.
30.
Peile, C. (1994) ‘Theory, Practice, Research: Casual Acquaintance or a Seamless Whole?’, Australian Social Work47(2):17–23.
31.
Ragab, Ibrahim A. (1990) ‘How Social Work Can Take Root in Developing Countries’, Social Development Issues12(3): 38–51.
32.
Reinharz, S. (1979) On Becoming a Social Scientist: From Survey Research and Participant Observation to Experiential Analysis. London: Jossey-Bass.
33.
Ruwhiu, L.A., H. Baucke, R. Corrigan, M. Herewini, N. Davis and P.T.O. Ruwhiu (1999) ‘Whaka-whanau-nga-tanga – A Touch of Class – We Represent’. Paper presented at the Joint Conference of AASW, IFSW, APASWE and AASWWE, Brisbane (26–9 September).
34.
Sacco, T. (1996) ‘Towards an Inclusive Paradigm for Social Work’, in M. Doel and S. Shardlow (eds) Social Work in a Changing World. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing.
35.
Saleebey, D. (1994) ‘Culture, Theory and Narratives: The Intersection of Meaning in Practice’, Social Work39(4): 351–359.
36.
Sanders, D.S. (1980) ‘Multiculturalism: Implication for Social Work’, International Social Work23(2): 9–16.
37.
Stanfield, J.H., II (1993) ‘Epistemological Consideration’, in J.H. Stan.eld, II and R.M. Dennis (eds) Race and Ethnicity in Research Methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
38.
Stanfield, J.H., II (1994) ‘Ethnic Modelling in Qualitative Research’, in N.K. Denzin and Y.S. Lincoln (eds) Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
39.
Walton, R.G. and M.M. Abo-El-Nasr (1988) ‘Indigenization and Authentization in Terms of Social Work in Egypt’, International Social Work31(1): 135–144.
40.
Webber-Dreadon, E. (1999) ‘He Taonga Mo Matou Tipuna (A Gift Handed Down by Our Ancestors)’. Paper presented at the Joint Conference of AASW, IFSW, APASWE and AASWWE, Brisbane (26–9 September).
41.
Weick, A. (1991) ‘The Place of Science in Social Work’, Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare18(4): 13–34.
42.
Wikaira, B., P. Prasad, J. Davis and M. Halbert (1999) ‘Inclusion of Cultural Social Work Perspectives Within a Monocultural System’. Paper presented at the Joint Conference of AASW, IFSW, APASWE and AASWWE, Brisbane (26–9 September).
43.
Williams, R. (1981) Culture. London: Fontana.
44.
Zimmerman, J.H. (1989) ‘Determinism, Science and Social Work’, Social Service Review63(1): 52–62.
