Spring 2012 Newsletter - Association for Applied Sport Psychology

into the cultural divide that might emerge
between researcher and participant when
the cultural norms embedded in the research
process do not match with the standpoint of
the participant.
The challenge for applied researchers
in sport and exercise psychology is to
develop methodological approaches that
are understandable and in alignment with
the cultural practices of those we seek to
understand. Within the broader discussion
of cultural diversity in sport and exercise
psychology, there is now occasional mention
of cultural sensitivity. These discussions
intersect with Guideline Four from the
American Psychological Association’s
Multicultural Guidelines (2002). Guideline
Four reads as follows: “Culturally sensitive
psychological researchers are encouraged
to recognize the importance of conducting
culture-centered and ethical psychological
research among persons from ethnic,
linguistic, and racial minority backgrounds”
(p. 36). The term cultural sensitivity, in
research, implies that for each diverse group
of participants, there is a series of culturally
informed research practices that can capture
the uniqueness (i.e., diverse perspective)
of that group. There are courses offered
to scholars who seek to become more
sensitized toward populations they hope
to study. For example, before beginning his
first externally funded project working with
Aboriginal elite athletes, one of the authors
registered for a five-day course designed to
teach attendees about Canadian Aboriginal
There are courses offered to scholars
who seek to become more sensitized
toward populations they hope to study.
customs. As a counterpoint, Andersen (1993)
proposed that attempts at cultural sensitivity
and inclusiveness sometimes end in sensitive
stereotyping, where people are broadly
classified as holding a series of common
characteristics, or norms, because they
belong to a specific race. Upon reflection,
the earlier experience undertaken to learn
one monolithic Canadian Aboriginal way of
thinking was a wonderful illustration of overly
simplified cultural education.
Following in the footsteps of Andersen’s
proposition that sensitivity, even with the
best of intentions, might end in sensitive
stereotyping, it is suggested here that a
better pathway for researchers would be to
engage in “culturally safe” methodological
and procedural practices. Cultural safety
requires a geographically local approach to
what ought to constitute meaningful research
practices. Localized research understanding
might include the following: (a) whether the
participant(s) hold traditional or assimilated
cultural norms, (b) level of education, (c)
religious outlook, (d) peer affiliations, (e)
economic status, (f) gender orientation, (g)
additional criteria deemed meaningful by the
participant(s), and (h) how each appropriate
criteria aforementioned translates into
meaningful research practices within the
context.
From a much closer exploration, perhaps
through the guidance of culturally informed
co-researchers and/or co-participants, the
researcher can develop effective research
questions, methodological solutions, and
writing strategies to match the intended
context. Through such explorations,
researchers are more apt to create a safe
space for participants to share perspectives
flavored with the appropriate cultural
underpinnings.
The advantages of cultural safety extend
beyond better project designs for researchers
and their readership. Research practices,
at best, can empower participants, through
affirmation of each person as having a
cultural identity, acknowledged from the
inside - out and from the outside - in. The
counterpoint to silencing is voicing, and the
intent through culturally safe research is to
make audible the beliefs, values and customs
of the participant via subject-centered
research processes. Indeed, the Canadian
Institute for Health Research (2007) proposed
guidelines to researchers for the co-creation
AASP Newsletter // Spring 2012 // Culturally Safe Research Praxis
26 In This Issue
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