ARTICLE 10.1177/1049732302250129 QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH / March 2003 Laverack, Brown / FIJIAN EXPERIENCES Qualitative Research in a Cross-Cultural Context: Fijian Experiences Glenn R. Laverack Kevin M. Brown In this article, the authors discuss the experiences of conducting qualitative research in tra- ditional Fijian communities. This provided the setting for the cross-cultural exchange between the researcher and research participants and from which the authors draw impor- tant considerations for the design of future qualitative studies. In particular, the authors dis- cuss the need to adapt essentially Western research designs to accommodate different cross- cultural styles of facilitation, group dynamics, spatial arrangements, gender issues, proto- col, patterns of participation, and perception of time. They propose a model that clarifies the types of roles and styles of facilitation observed in a Fijian workshop setting and comment on how different cross-cultural dynamics between the researcher and participants can influence the success of qualitative research. Keywords: AUTHOR: PLEASE PROVIDE KEYWORDS W hen considerations for the design of a research study have to take into account issues regarding cross-cultural settings, unfamiliarity can make it more difficult for an outside evaluator to reflect the reality of the situation, and important information might be lost (Cuthbert, 1985). The most significant difficul- ties faced by external cross-cultural researchers have been their inability to speak the local language or to understand beliefs and values, communication and styles of interaction, social relationships, attitudes toward time, infrastructure, and political sensitivities (Merryfield, 1985). It is recognized that knowledge of the local lan- guage, although important, is not essential and that building a rapport with poten- tial informants is more a function of time spent on site and of interpersonal skills than it is of cultural identity and linguistics (Ginsberg, 1988). Cross-cultural researchers have suggested several ways in which studies could be improved by taking the culture into account. These suggestions fall into two categories: the use of appropriate technologies and the engagement of suitable personnel. Appropriate technologies for cross-cultural research that have been identified as a more naturalistic approach include case studies and interviews, which use the 1 AUTHORS’ NOTE: The author would like to thank the Fiji Trilateral Health Promotion Project spon- sored by AusAID, Dr. Damien Ridge, and Dr. Michael Gray. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH, Vol. 13 No. 2, March 2003 1-10 DOI: 10.1177/1049732302250129 © 2003 Sage Publications