Cultural Research (1) (1)

Cultural Research Student Institution Course Instructor Date 1

Introduction The article in question is titled "Identity in Descriptions of Others Across Ethnic Groups in South Africa" and it is authored by Byron G. Adams, Fons J. R. Van de Vijver, Gideon P. de Bruin, and Cynthia Bueno Torres. The essence of selecting this topic was with regard to the existing controversies of the concept of identity and its role in defining the global social structure. While people recognize their differences with others, many are ignorant of the relevance of such differences in creating a more diverse social model. According to Haffejee and Theron (2017), this lack of understanding seems to be creating a lot of social problems, especially in multicultural countries. South Africa, for example, is a perfect case of a nation affected by a lack of understanding of identity. The social structure of this nation continues to raise much tension, especially as every ethnic community tries to fight for its space within this ecosystem. In response to such problems, this study examined the identity structures suggested when people in four ethnic groups in South Africa are described. The identifying categories were the Black people, followed by the Indians, White people, and people of color. The goal was to evaluate an identity model that included characteristics, situational factors, relational orientation, ideology, and valence as constituents (Adams et al., 2014). For both component and other- identity dimensions, social distance was the perfect modulator. The problem addressed in this research was regarding the concept of identity in the description of others. The idea was to determine how identity creates the distinctions that depict one ethnic group from the other. Based on the presented description, identity, in this case, was defined as those components that make a person or a group unique and distinguishable from the rest (Adams et al., 2014). However, identity also refers to those factors and attributes that make a person or a group of individuals 2

The overall study design was an ethnographic model that assessed the identified sample groups within their natural habitat. This means that the identified participants were expected to behave just as they would in their natural environment throughout the entire research period. The goal, in this case, was to enhance the validity of the research by ensuring that the collected data was an accurate reflection of the general expression of identity within the identified ethnic groups ( Rich et al., 2018). This research employed a qualitative research method in the collection of data relating to the subject of discussion. The qualitative approach allowed sufficient comparative assessment of the variation in character, behavior, and representation between the selected groups. A total of 1,160 participants were used during the research, representing each of the aforementioned four ethnic groups in South Africa. From the South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) project's qualitative data collection, the researchers retrieved other people's personas. In order to create a personality measure compliant with South African labor laws and can be applied equitably to all linguistic and ethnic groups in the country, it was important to evaluate the differences in the development of an indigenous theoretical model of personality (Adams et al., 2014). The goal was to ensure that the final findings accurately assessed each ethnic group's representation while adhering to the nation's overall social structure. The SAPI study collected samples from the four recognized ethnic groups in South Africa using a stratified sampling technique. For each of the five social distance categories, descriptions were sought from each of the chosen participants. Their neighbor, teacher, closest friend, grandparents, and parent were among those whose norms and character were described. A total of 22,779 descriptions of the highlighted categories of social distance were supplied by these 4

1,160 individuals from the four ethnic groups (Adams et al., 2014). The bulk of the sample population was made up of females, despite participation from all age groups and genders. Age disparity, however, was not as pronounced. This large sample size was directed at enhancing the accuracy of the collected data ( Rich et al., 2018). The response from each participant was analyzed individually before being categorized in their respective groups for more accurate results. The idea was to identify the identity difference with regard to behavioral differentiation at an individual level as well as on an ethnic level. Considering that the study involved human subjects, the researchers ensured that the entire context of the research was in accordance with the principles of the Belmont report. For instance, the selection process of the participants was conducted at random to ensure justice and enhance the overall accuracy of the research through equal representation ( Ice et al., 2015). Moreover, each of the participants had to consent to their participation in the study. The idea was to ensure that none of these individuals was coerced into participating in the research. Every participant was also expected to have the autonomy to make the decision as to their willingness to participate in the study. Above all, the researchers ensured that none of the participants were exposed to any form of danger and that the outcomes of the study were to the benefit of all parties involved. Overall, the entire research process conformed to the expected ethical codes of conduct for research involving human subjects ( Ice et al., 2015). This enhances its overall validity, which makes it a reliable point of reference for other subsequent research for practical applications in cultural studies. Culture within Research 5

The researchers project how these preexisting cultural and social differences introduced the difference in ethnic identity within this country. The overall trigger of this problem was the effect of the existing legislation that seemed to project the whites as superior to the indigenous blacks. For instance, there were policies like the Native Resettlement Act and the Group Areas Act that created ethnic segregation (Adams et al., 2014). Through these policies, there was separation of the different ethnic groups based on color and language. These included sections in areas of settlement, school setup, and even employment opportunities. The research further mentions how the 1990s democratization of South Africa sparked the beginning of significant cultural reforms in the country. This democratization process aimed to push for equality in the political, social, and economic sectors (Adams et al., 2014). These were facilitated by various government policies introduced after the structural reconstruction that saw the introduction of the first Black president. For instance, there were policies like affirmative action designed to promote equality in education and employment in the country. The goal, in this case, was to ensure that every person had access to equal education and employment opportunities irrespective of age, gender, or ethnicity. These reforms also saw the abolition of laws that prevented any form of interethnic contact or communication. The presented assessment, however, confirms that despite the efficiency of these reforms, there are still instances of ethnic discrimination in the country. Some of the presented evidence includes the fact that a majority of the black population is still occupying the minimal blue-collar jobs that require unskilled and semiskilled laborers. These individuals also receive the lowest pay despite occupying the most demanding jobs ( Ice et al., 2015). Similarly, people of color still dominate the service industries, just like in the apartheid era. The alarming factor is that whites still occupy the greatest percentage of the country’s economy, earning the highest income and 7

dominating the biggest employment positions. The presented statistics confirm that blacks still represent the highest percentage of unemployment with 28.9%, followed by people of color at 23.6%, then the Indians at 10.8%, and finally, the whites who only occupy 5.6% of the total unemployed population (Adams et al., 2014). The presented cultural model has formed the basis for addressing the highlighted research question. These statistics, for example, reveal how the identity of self is an influential factor in the social, economic, and political model in South Africa. Overall, incorporating this cultural assessment helps provide a background for understanding the identity differences within this country. According to Van de Vijver and Tanzer (2004), this also explains the variation in culture and behavior across different ethnic communities. Overall, the researcher has managed to use this historical evolution of the culture of South Africa to present a narrative of identity and the accompanying cultural differences across every ethnic community. While the research may have incorporated culture in the most self-sufficient way that aligns with its intended objective, there are still certain gaps that may have required slight adjustments to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the research. For instance, with reference to the provision of Sirikantraporn et al. (2017), in the analysis section, analyzing from an ethnic perspective more than on an individual level would have better communicated the collected findings regarding their identity projecting in descriptions of others across ethnic groups in South Africa. Currently, the presented analysis is more focused on the individual responses of the 1,160 participants. While this is also proving accurate, it does not sufficiently communicate the expected message the research set out to communicate. Considering this gap in the research, if these researchers were allowed to improve on the research, it would be ideal to group these participants based on their ethnicity and use these 8

References Adams, B. G., Van de Vijver, F. J., De Bruin, G. P., & Bueno Torres, C. (2014). Identity in descriptions of others across ethnic groups in South Africa.  Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology ,  45 (9), 1411-1433. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022114542466 Haffejee, S., & Theron, L. (2017). Contextual risks and resilience enablers in South Africa.   Human Strengths and Resilience: Developmental, Cross-Cultural, and International Perspectives , 87-104. Ice, G. H., Dufour, D. L., & Stevens, N. J. (2015).   Disasters in field research: preparing for and coping with unexpected events . Rowman & Littlefield. Karasz,   A., & Singelis,   T.   M. (2009). Qualitative and mixed methods research in cross-cultural psychology.   Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology ,   40 (6), 909- 916.   https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022109349172 Miller,   K.   E., Omidian,   P., Quraishy,   A.   S., Quraishy,   N., Nasiry,   M.   N., Nasiry,   S., Karyar,   N.   M., & Yaqubi,   A.   A. (2006). The Afghan symptom checklist: A culturally grounded approach to mental health assessment in a conflict zone.   American Journal of Orthopsychiatry ,   76 (4), 423-433.   https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.76.4.423 Rich, G., Sirikantraporn, S., & Jean-Charles, W. (2018). The concept of posttraumatic growth in an adult sample from Port-au-Prince, Haiti: A mixed methods study.   Rich, G., and Sirikantraporn (Eds), Human Strengths and Resilience: Developmental, Cross-Cultural, and International Perspectives, Lexington Books , 21-38. Sirikantraporn, S. J., Rich, G. J., & Jafari, N. (2017). The Concept of Posttraumatic Growth in a Cambodian Sample.   Human Strengths and Resilience: Developmental, Cross-Cultural, and International Perspectives , p. 39. 10

Van de Vijver,   F., & Tanzer,   N.   K. (2004). Bias and equivalence in cross-cultural assessment: An overview.   European Review of Applied Psychology ,   54 (2), 119- 135.   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2003.12.004 11