Carlos Figueroa

January 31, 2015

Midterm Exam
Question 1
There is no one best way when studying in the social sciences. The belief that there is one
best way when studying in the social sciences is problematic because it doesnt allow one to fully
appreciate the scope of the diversity of the human experience. In creating this ideal that ones
own cultural traditions and ideologies are the best way to move towards a common goal one is
eliminating the possibility of alternate ways of doing things. This conflicts with some of Rogoffs
Orienting Concepts which help us approach the social sciences with as much objectivity as
possible. Rogoff (2003) states Understanding different cultural practices does not require
determining which one way is right With an understanding of what is done in different
circumstances we can be open to possibilities that do not necessarily exclude each other. (page
12) meaning there may not be a best way and searching for a best way can lead to the
misunderstanding or exclusion of alternate practices for accomplishing similar goals which leads
me to another conflict experienced when believing there is one best way. Another orienting
concept formed by Rogoff (2003) states that Each needs to be understood in relation to other

aspects of the cultural approach Cultural processes have a coherence beyond

elements such as economic resources, family size, modernization, and urbanization.
(page 11) is violated by believing there is one best way because in this belief, one
doesnt take into consideration the aspects of other cultures and the coherence certain
practices might bare within that culture. In other words, understanding cultural practices
and their coherence within a specific culture is key to being objective in social sciences.
Believing there is one best way can lead to ethnocentrism, because when judging other cultures

values or practices most humans are prone to believing their ways are the best ways to doing
certain things. Ethnocentrism is judging the values of another cultures practices based on

the values of your own community. Ethnocentric views can manifest in the imposition of
ones own cultural values and practices on another culture. In historical cases, believing a
certain cultures values and practices are superior to another have led to the most horrific and
tragic events in human history. For example, in North America, specifically the United States, the
pilgrims believed the Native Americans culture to be inferior. This eventually led to the near
extinction of Native American culture by war and the Americanization of the Natives by
educating their sons in Western structured schooling and by limiting the territories they could
own (reservations). All throughout history the idea of one groups cultures superiority has
resulted in the near extinction of those of other cultures from the Holocaust to the Spanish
Inquisition. So it is very important we explore alternatives versus determine the absolute best
way to do things so we may preserve as much objectivity in the social sciences as possible, fully
appreciate the diversity of the human experience, and help better understand ourselves and our
own culture in the process.

References
Rogoff, B. (2003). Orienting Concepts and Ways of Understanding the
Cultural Nature ofHuman Developme. In The cultural nature of human
development. Oxford [UK: Oxford University Press.