UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, COMMUNICATION, AND RESEARCH - APPLICATIONS TO CHICANOS AND MEXICAN-AMERICANS

This paper deals with three issues, ethnic identity, insider/outsider perspective, and validation, raised by Mirande and Tanno in response t o Hecht, Ribeau, & Sedano's 1989 article. In this response we argue fo r an interpretive and emergent view of identity. We also argue for a r ecognition of the value of both insider and outsider perspectives and the need for culturally diverse research teams such as that in our 198 9 research. Finally, we discuss the utility of a variety of validation techniques, including the juxtaposition of critical analyses of liter ature and questionnaires used in our research.