Cultural Ways of Learning: Individual Traits or Repertoires of Practice
Abstract
This article addresses a challenge faced by those who study cultural variation in approaches to learning: how to characterize regularities of individuals’ approaches according to their cultural background. We argue against the common approach of assuming that regularities are static, and that general traits of individuals are attributable categorically to ethnic group membership. We suggest that a cultural-historical approach can be used to help move beyond this assumption by focusing researchers’ and practitioners’ attention on variations in individuals’ and groups’ histories of engagement in cultural practices because the variations reside not as traits of individuals or collections of individuals, but as proclivities of people with certain histories of engagement with specific cultural activities. Thus, individuals’ and groups’ experience in activities—not their traits—becomes the focus. Also, we note that cultural-historical work needs to devote more attention to researching regularities in the variations among cultural communities in order to bring these ideas to fruition.
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“However, Gutiérrez and Rogoff (2003) cautioned against overgeneralizing cultural traits, stating, “Equating culture with race, ethnicity, language preference, or national origin results in overly deterministic, static, weak, and uncomplicated understandings of both individuals and the community…”
Background
- Authors
- Gutiérrez, K. D., & Rogoff, B.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
- Venue
- Educational Researcher
- Published
- 2003-06
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 19-25
- ISSN
- 0013-189X (ISSN-L)
- 1935-102X
- OpenAlex
- W2091263214
- Cited by
- 2,161
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 81 · 2025: 93 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 108 · 2022: 123 · 2021: 124 · 2020: 171 · 2019: 143 · 2018: 117 · 2017: 124 · 2016: 127 · 2015: 127 · 2014: 108 · 2013: 89 · 2012: 121
- FWCI
- 53.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Educational Researcher (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Human Factors and Ergonomics › Innovative Education and Learning Practices
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Learning Styles and Cognitive Differences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
- Keywords
- learning methods, cultural-historical approach, cultural practices, individual traits, ethnic group membership, cultural communities
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