Research is one of the most important aspects of the culture and tourist sector, as it is the driving force of every cultural event because it heavily relies on past findings.
Cultural research means any endeavor, by means of critical investigation and study of a subject, to discover new or collate old facts or hypotheses on a cultural subject, the latter being defined as any ethnographic or anthropological study, including basic data collection, studies of or incorporating traditional knowledge or classification systems (e.g., studies of medicinal properties of plants), documentary films, archaeology, linguistics, and ethno-historical accounts.
Research has so many important aspects, and below are highlights of some of them.
1. Research activities give room for the documentation of very important cultural activities in any country:
It is through research activities that hidden and yet-to-be-exposed cultural activities and events are brought to the limelight by scholars for the benefit and upliftment of a nation and the cultural sector at large. Most of these activities include festivals, dances, sports, marriage rites, processions, and other related events that represent the culture of a particular people. When these activities are researched, the results most of the time correct misconceptions and put any discourse into perspective.
2. It gives room for the documentation of artifacts and cultural practices.
Artifacts are objects made by human beings, typically of cultural or historical interest. Research activities precede all documentation activities in the cultural industry. And this documentation could either be electronic or manual for reference by future researchers and culture enthusiasts. Artifacts that are mostly researched upon can include buildings, sculptures, utensils, and other materials of cultural interest.
3. Increase the information base:
Research activities lead to the increase and expansion of the information database in the cultural sector. It is through research activities that most people who want to add to the existing knowledge about any area of culture can contribute. The continued existence of any discourse depends solely on the avalanche of materials available either online or offline, which can only be guaranteed by research activities.
4. Promotion and preservation of cultural activities:
Research activities most times lead to the promotion and expansion of cultural activities of any nation, which will, in implication, lead to national development. Those researchers most often dig deep into details of activities that are culturally related, thereby preventing them from going into extinction, as the literature or findings that are either online or on the pages of books in the library would live
5. Protection of languages and cultural practices:
Research activities lead to the protection of cultural practices and, most importantly, the language, which most developing countries use as a catalyst for the development of other sectors. Languages, when not properly researched and documented, would inevitably lead to the languages becoming moribund. Research activities thereby broaden the language and cultural discourse.
6. It exposes harmful cultural practices:
Not all cultural practices are good; some practices are very harmful to human existence. Such practices include female genital mutilation, killing of twins, female inheritance, widowhood, and other related practices. It is through research activities that these practices would be brought to the limelight and be revealed.
7. It is used for educational purposes:
Cultural research is still used for academic purposes in various educational courses of study, such as anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, and other related courses. At the end of academic programs, this research forms part of the requirements for graduation.
8. Policy formulation:
Most research findings are the bedrock through which major policies are created or altered. In the same vein, cultural research findings are used for policy formulation and modifications, which will ultimately lead to the development of the cultural sector.
Conclusion
It is important to note that for any nation to achieve any meaningful development, the cultural sector must be properly positioned, and research is fundamental to the cultural development of any nation.
Research is what drives the cultural sector and makes it more viable and sellable in the industry, which makes every concerned person understand the importance of cultural research.