Integrating Culture and Biology in Psychological Research: Conceptual Clarifications and Recommendations

The increased prevalence of psychological research that integrates cultural and biological perspectives requires that we take stock of how the field approaches important issues of conceptualization and measurement. The primary goal of this chapter is to raise some substantial conceptual and methodological issues of which researchers in the field should be aware. To this end, the chapter includes an in-depth discussion of the nature of cultural psychology, highlights the need to carefully conceptualize the nature of cultural groups, and addresses the ongoing debate about the biological basis of race. The second half of the chapter provides some specific recommendations for future researchers who wish to pursue a rigorous scientific approach to understanding the interplay of culture and biology.