Science, Faith, and Culturally Sensitive Research: Reflections on a Library Book

I picked up a book at the library on my walk with Abi the other day (can we pause to appreciate my cute little adult routine where I walk with a friend on Mondays, and we stop at the university library). It’s called Culturally Sensitive Research Methods for Educational Administration and Leadership, edited by Eugenie A. Samier and Eman S. ElKaleh, and let me just tell you. It is amazing. I have only read the introduction, and it made my academic heart soar.

This is not a book review, although I will probably write one of those when I finish the book. Instead, if you’re interested, keep reading for my reflections on how culturally sensitive research methods relate to my deepest passions and to ask yourself questions about how it might do the same for you.

My heart beats with a cross-cultural understanding of the world. I’m not sure how much of that has always been in me. I’m not sure how much of that is from my profoundly globally-minded community of the past few years. I do know, however, that if the gospel is for all nations, tribes, and tongues (and it is) and if all truly are human and image bearers of the one true God (and they are), we must widen our perspectives here in the West, especially in America, and especially as American evangelicals.

I think this is at the forefront of my mind partially because of all the election conversations from the fall. Lots of people who claim to be Christians very publicly state that anyone who votes differently than them must not be a Christian. No. That is false. Jesus did not die to save only the Republicans and not the Democrats, or vice versa. And yeah, maybe (some of) the Republican candidates are more aligned with biblical values. But honestly, a lot of the Democratic platform issues (not all) might align more with biblical issues. There is a level of compassion at the core of Democratic rhetoric that is simply not present in that of Republicans, and I think that this type of compassion is close to the heart of the Father. Regardless of what a government should be and what the balance of voting by beliefs might be, connection between political party and faith is a non-issue. It is more important that followers of Jesus be filled with a deep compassion for everyone, even and especially those who are not like them.

As I work in a research field at a Christian university and consider what it means to be a Westerner and an academic and a follower of Jesus, I realize more every day that engaging with academia on a global scale (and even just in the American political context) from a culturally sensitive worldview is a requirement, not an option. The authors of this book talk about Westernization, colonialism, and how Western research methods often silence the communication styles of those from other cultures. This conversation takes place in the context of academia, pointing out how these ingrained forms of understanding the world and associated biases degrade Westerners’ ability to do research ethically and effectively. Is this not the same as my passion for moving Christianity outside its cute little Bible belt box?

The book focuses on education administration research in non-Western cultures, but I think these topics have impacts outside of this niche context as well. Going into the first few classes of my PhD in a few weeks, my aim is to research how writing is taught in science classes and how these teaching methods might be improved. Eventually, I want to teach science writing to undergraduate students, and I think that we must consider the connection between research and cultural literacy in the context of the science community as well. Of course, this isn’t the focus of my research or career. But it has to be a consideration, especially when it comes to the teaching practices that I’m examining and proposing.

For example, we as author-scientist-instructors must consider: does the way we teach science writing discredit scientific authors from other cultures? If we tell students to evaluate the credibility of a source by considering its grammar, does this discount articles from other cultures that have been done dirty by a computer translation that butchers the impeccable grammar of another language into grade-school grammar of English? How else do considerations of vocabulary, sentence structure, pronoun use, etc. inform the understanding of credibility that is embedded into students studying science in the West, even just in America?

And, on top of this, how does the way we teach science writing impact our students who may come from other cultures? Do we force these students to conform to a Western, American, or English perspective when it comes to, say, structuring an argument? Should we? We know that some cultures tend to start with the big picture and move smaller, while others move in the opposite direction. Is either way wrong, and if so, what right have we to say so and to teach our students this? Why would we force a student from a culture other than our own to rewire their brain, when perhaps their means of expression is just as functional, if not more? Does our focus on our own culture alienate these students, and is it worth it for the sake of a common scientific culture with English as a lingua franca and Western ideals and ways of thinking as the gold standard? I propose not.

And that is why I am so excited about this book. It connects so well to my passion to extend faith beyond what the Bible belt expects, and it increases ethicality and access to academia among the nations. If academia is the means by which I encounter people to spread the gospel, how could I not strive to do academics in the way that most closely resembles the heart of the Father for the nations? If I am to do everything to the glory of the Father, how could I not align my academic values with his kingdom values? And, how could I not hold science educators to the same standards as I seek to inspire them to teach science writing and scientific authorial voice in a more effective way?

Maybe these are not the same questions you are asking yourself. I realize that my field, research, and career aspirations are unique – as they should be. If you find the reflections above to be irrelevant or off-target for yourself, I encourage you to at least ponder this question: do my perceptions or practices cause me to misunderstand those from other cultures or worldviews? And, is my answer to that question aligned with what I say I believe about God and humanity and my purpose? If not, join me in some introspection this year and be ready to embark on shifting your internal paradigms as needed.

 Reference: Samier, E.A., & ElKaleh, E.S. (Eds.). (2023). Culturally sensitive research methods for educational administration and leadership. Routledge.