METHODOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN CULTURAL CHANGE RESEARCH: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TURKISH AND GLOBAL EXAMPLES
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15737335Keywords:
Cultural Change, Qualitative Methods, Digital Ethnography, Ethnography, Visual Analysis, AI‑Supported Qualitative AnalysisAbstract
This study conducts a systematic review of 65 qualitative research articles (2014–2024) examining cultural transformation in the context of globalization, where the growing influence of social media, artificial intelligence, and migration dynamics necessitates methodological innovation. Focusing on Turkey, the analysis highlights how historical ruptures from the Ottoman era to the present, neoliberal urban policies, Syrian refugee integration processes, and the multifaceted impacts of the climate crisis provide a rich theoretical and methodological foundation for cultural change studies. Publications employing participatory observation, in-depth interviews, discourse analysis, netnography, visual analysis, and AI-assisted qualitative methods were subjected to thematic content analysis using NVivo software. Findings are structured around four themes: (1) traditional ethnographic methods offering micro-level insights, (2) digital/netnographic techniques revealing online cultural practices, (3) visual analyses decoding symbolic and historical dimensions, and (4) AI-driven tools generating systematic insights from large datasets. The study underscores that interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical sensitivity, and multi-method integration are critical for addressing the complexity of cultural change. It concludes by proposing a conceptual and methodological framework to guide future research, emphasizing adaptive methodologies in response to rapidly evolving socio-technological landscapes.
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