跨文化研究方法论的再审思

Rethinking of the Methodology of Cross-cultural Research

方法论(methodology)曾是传统西方哲学中一个重要的组成部分。方法论就是对各种具体、个别、特定的方法进行考察、分析、比较、批判、判定以及整合。迄今为止,专家学者们在不同的研究领域摸索、创立和发展了很多卓有成效的方法。我们应根据各种具体的情况把握和操作这些方法。当代大多数文化和社会的研究是基于实证主义(positivistic)的传统。通过这个途径,人们可寻找模型,理论以及具有相当程度外部有效性的法律式原则。因此,跨文化研究以及东西方比较研究的典型方法是作为技术的探索,其特征表现为概念化、操作化、设计研究、构思假设,建造工具,收集数据以及建构理论。我们应关注东西方研究在形式与内容上的革新、动态和趋势。所谓研究的形式主要表现在方法论上,我们也可以从元方法论(Meta-methodology)的角度来加以衡定。元方法论是一个理论系统,其宗旨在于考察和检验各种具有特定目的的方法论,并分清方法与方法论之间的不同。它有以下几点特征:一、阐明某一方法论的目的、任务、含义、结构、功能以及标准等;二、揭示这一方法论的独特性、有效性、可行性、可操作性以及可成功性,并同时指出其局限性、不完善性等;三、预设、察验、修订、促进和完善这一方法论实施的过程和步骤。我们还可以发现方法、方法论、元方法论以及元元方法论之间不同多元层阶的关系:一、某一方法作为第一层阶直接处理和解决具体问题;二、某一方法论作为第二层阶选择和判定某一方法的适用性、正当性、有效性;三、某一元方法论作为第三层阶选择和判定某一方法论;四、某一元元方法论作为第四层阶选择和判定某一元方法论。文章主要从以下八个方面,探讨东西方研究的方法论问题:一、概念化与操作化;二、主位取向与客位取向;三、研究设计与研究测量;四、分析单位与分析层次;五、数据收集与数据分析;六、文化抽样与对象抽样;七、多元跨越与纵横坐标;八、案例分析与模式创新。

Methodology is an important part of traditional Western Philosophy. It enables one to examine, analyze, compare, criticize, justify, verify and integrate various concrete, individual and specific approaches. So far, experts and scholars from di- verse fields have explored, created and developed a collection of effective methods. We should grasp and utilize these methods based on a variety of specific and actual circumstances. Most contemporary cultural and social studies follow the positivistic approach. Those typical methods of cross-cultural research and comparative East-West studies have been explored as types of technologies characterized by conceptualization, manipulation, designation, assumption, instrumentation, data-collection and constructional theory. We should emphasize the tendencies and the dynamics of innovation of East-West studies and also pay atten- tion to ＂meta-methodology＂ which attempts to examine the various methodologies. It has the following characteristics： firstly, to expose the purpose, task, meaning, structure, function and standard of a methodology; secondly, to reveal the uniqueness, validity, feasibility, operability and success of this methodology as well as to point out its limitations, imperfectness, and so on ; and thirdly, to preset, inspect, revise, promote and improve the process of methodological applications. We can also discover the relationships between different methods, methodologies, meta-methodologies, and meta-meta-methodologies. This pa- per discusses the methodological problems of East-West studies from the following eight aspects ： 1. Conceptualization and Operation; 2. Emic and Etic Perspectives; 3. Research Designing and Measurement; 4. Analytic Units and Levels; 5. Data Collection and Analysis; 6. Cultural and Objective Sampling; 7. Multiple Crossing and Vertical and Horizontal Coordinates; 8. Case Analyses and Model Innovations.