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Explorations, thinking about integrated research questions (multiple methods, multiple disciplines)

Round 1 (30 minutes): The students divide into three groups, each taking a different disciplinary lens:

  • Group 1: Business/Marketing Perspective
  • Group 2: Cultural Studies/Anthropology Perspective
  • Group 3: Urban Studies/Geography Perspective

Task for each group:

  1. Identify one key research question from your disciplinary perspective
  2. List 3 specific aspects from the field report that support investigating this question
  3. Outline potential research methods specific to your discipline
  4. Identify 2-3 key theories or concepts from your field that could frame the research
  5. Note what other cases/examples from Berlin could be comparative reference points

Plenary Discussion (20 minutes):

  • Each group presents their approach (5 minutes each)
  • Class discusses how the different perspectives complement or contradict each other
  • Identify potential for interdisciplinary collaboration

Round 2 (25 minutes): The groups mix so each new group has members from all three original perspectives. Task:

  1. Create an integrated research proposal that combines insights from multiple disciplines
  2. Identify specific ways the different approaches could strengthen each other
  3. Develop a timeline for the research
  4. List potential challenges and how to address them

Final Plenary (15 minutes):

  • Groups share their integrated proposals
  • Discussion of how different disciplinary approaches can be combined effectively
  • Reflection on what was learned about interdisciplinary research design

BUSINESS/MARKETING PERSPECTIVE:

Research Question: How do ethnic restaurants in Berlin strategically balance cultural authenticity and market adaptation to appeal to different customer segments?

Supporting Aspects from Report:

  1. Strategic use of Pan-African imagery rather than Arabic cultural elements
  2. French language prominence over Arabic despite being a Moroccan restaurant
  3. Conscious decision to emphasize certain cultural elements while minimizing others for marketing purposes

Research Methods:

  • Customer surveys and interviews
  • Competitive analysis of other Moroccan restaurants
  • Sales data analysis comparing different menu items
  • Semi-structured interviews with restaurant owners
  • Analysis of marketing materials and social media presence

Key Theories/Concepts:

  • Market positioning theory
  • Cultural marketing and branding
  • Consumer behavior in ethnic dining

Comparative Cases:

  • Der Phönizier (mentioned in another report)
  • Turkish restaurants in Kreuzberg adapting to gentrification
  • Vietnamese restaurants in Prenzlauer Berg

CULTURAL STUDIES/ANTHROPOLOGY PERSPECTIVE:

Research Question: How do immigrant restaurant owners negotiate their cultural identity presentation in Berlin’s evolving culinary landscape?

Supporting Aspects from Report:

  1. Owners speaking Darija Arabic but minimizing Arabic cultural displays
  2. Selection of specific cultural symbols (Tamazigh tapestry, photos of African leaders)
  3. The tension between “traditional” branding and selective cultural presentation

Research Methods:

  • Ethnographic observation
  • Life history interviews with restaurant owners
  • Visual analysis of restaurant decor
  • Participant observation of customer-staff interactions
  • Document analysis of menus and promotional materials

Key Theories/Concepts:

  • Cultural hybridization
  • Strategic essentialism
  • Performance of identity
  • Self-orientalization

Comparative Cases:

  • Lebanese restaurant in Neukölln (from another report)
  • Turkish coffeehouses in Kreuzberg
  • Arab Street (Sonnenallee) restaurants

URBAN STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY PERSPECTIVE:

Research Question: How do ethnic restaurants contribute to the production of transcultural spaces in Berlin’s changing urban landscape?

Supporting Aspects from Report:

  1. Location in Friedrichstadt, an office district
  2. Adaptation to European customer base
  3. Creation of a hybrid cultural space through design and atmosphere

Research Methods:

  • Mapping of ethnic restaurants in the area
  • Analysis of neighborhood demographic changes
  • Documentation of physical space transformations
  • Foot traffic patterns analysis
  • Spatial analysis of restaurant distribution

Key Theories/Concepts:

  • Urban transformation and gentrification
  • Production of space (Lefebvre)
  • Transcultural urbanism
  • Right to the city

Comparative Cases:

  • Restaurant clusters in Kreuzberg
  • Transformation of Sonnenallee
  • Evolution of Markthalle Neun

Each perspective offers different insights into understanding the complex dynamics at play in this case, from business strategies to cultural identity negotiation to urban transformation processes.


Title: “Negotiating Authenticity: Cultural Restaurants as Sites of Identity, Commerce, and Urban Transformation in Berlin”

  1. INTEGRATED RESEARCH COMPONENTS:

Core Research Question: How do ethnic restaurants in Berlin navigate the interplay between cultural authenticity, commercial viability, and urban space-making in an evolving metropolitan context?

Multidisciplinary Components:

  • Business: Market positioning and economic sustainability strategies
  • Cultural Studies: Identity negotiation and cultural representation
  • Urban Studies: Spatial dynamics and neighborhood transformation
  1. STRENGTHENING INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS:

Business + Cultural Studies:

  • Economic data can help explain cultural presentation choices
  • Cultural analysis can inform marketing strategies
  • Combined understanding of both customer expectations and cultural authenticity

Cultural Studies + Urban Studies:

  • Spatial analysis provides context for cultural expression
  • Cultural patterns inform understanding of neighborhood changes
  • Combined insight into how space shapes cultural presentation

Urban Studies + Business:

  • Location analysis influences business strategies
  • Economic data helps explain spatial patterns
  • Combined understanding of neighborhood development and market forces
  1. RESEARCH TIMELINE:

Phase 1 (3 months): Preliminary Research

  • Literature review across all disciplines
  • Mapping of research sites
  • Development of research instruments
  • Initial stakeholder contacts

Phase 2 (6 months): Data Collection

  • Business data gathering: customer surveys, sales analysis
  • Ethnographic fieldwork: observations, interviews
  • Spatial analysis: mapping, demographic study
  • Cross-disciplinary team meetings for integration

Phase 3 (3 months): Analysis

  • Individual disciplinary analysis
  • Cross-disciplinary analysis sessions
  • Integration of findings
  • Preliminary conclusions

Phase 4 (2 months): Integration and Writing

  • Synthesis of findings
  • Writing of integrated report
  • Stakeholder presentations
  • Publication preparation
  1. CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS:

Methodological Challenges:

  • Different disciplinary approaches might conflict Solution: Regular cross-disciplinary meetings to align methods and share insights

Language Barriers:

  • Multiple languages involved (German, Arabic, French) Solution: Recruit multilingual research assistants, work with cultural mediators

Access Issues:

  • Restaurant owners might be hesitant to share business data Solution: Build trust through cultural mediators, ensure confidentiality, offer valuable feedback

Integration Challenges:

  • Difficulty merging different types of data Solution: Develop integrated analysis framework early, use mixed methods approach

Time Management:

  • Different research components require different timeframes Solution: Create flexible timeline with clear coordination points

Cultural Sensitivity:

  • Risk of misinterpreting cultural elements Solution: Include researchers from relevant cultural backgrounds, maintain ongoing dialogue with community members

Data Organization:

  • Managing diverse types of data from different disciplines Solution: Create centralized database with clear categorization system

Theoretical Integration:

  • Reconciling different disciplinary frameworks Solution: Regular theory workshops to develop integrated conceptual framework

OpenEdition schlägt Ihnen vor, diesen Beitrag wie folgt zu zitieren:
Victoria Mummelthei (27. Januar 2025). Explorations, thinking about integrated research questions (multiple methods, multiple disciplines). Keine Disziplin – No Discipline. Abgerufen am 8. Februar 2025 von https://nodiscipline.hypotheses.org/4158


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