Chapter 4: Research Rigor in Large-Scalecross-Culturalresearch Projects: A Team-Based Approach

The literature on large scale, cross-cultural research suggests that academic international research teams (AIRTs) are an important driver of research rigor, primarily through more accurate interpretation of the focal phenomenon given the multiple contexts within which this research is conducted. Several large-scale, cross-cultural research projects executed through AIRTs have now published results and provide opportunity for a deeper understanding of the methodological contributions this approach makes to knowledge creation. Recent literature identifies potential limitations to this approach. We extend the AIRT literature by incorporating a new perspective addressing these limitations as we discuss the research rationale for using this approach, the design and process dynamics that influence the quality, reliability, validity of the final research output, and the very viability of the research project itself. We conclude with recommendations for design and effectiveness of AIRTs to capture the multiple contexts of cross-cultural knowledge production, ensuring the highest level of rigor possible.