Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- Introduction
- PART 1 Setting the stage
- PART 2 Explanation of cross-cultural differences
- PART 3 Methods for studying culture
- 7 A fourfold conceptual framework for cultural and cross-cultural psychology: relativism, construct universalism, repertoire universalism and absolutism
- 8 About chicken and eggs: four methods for investigating culture–behaviour links
- 9 Qualitative and mixed methods research in cross-cultural psychology
- 10 Bias and real differences in cross-cultural differences: neither friends nor foes
- PART 4 The role of development
- PART 5 Concepts of culture
- PART 6 Conclusion
- Index
- References
8 - About chicken and eggs: four methods for investigating culture–behaviour links
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- Introduction
- PART 1 Setting the stage
- PART 2 Explanation of cross-cultural differences
- PART 3 Methods for studying culture
- 7 A fourfold conceptual framework for cultural and cross-cultural psychology: relativism, construct universalism, repertoire universalism and absolutism
- 8 About chicken and eggs: four methods for investigating culture–behaviour links
- 9 Qualitative and mixed methods research in cross-cultural psychology
- 10 Bias and real differences in cross-cultural differences: neither friends nor foes
- PART 4 The role of development
- PART 5 Concepts of culture
- PART 6 Conclusion
- Index
- References
Summary
Understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying observed differences in attitudes and behaviours between groups of people in different parts of the world has arguably been one of the major driving forces for the development of cross-cultural psychology (see Lonner, this volume). Variables thought to be associated with culture are used as an independent variable to describe and explain observable differences between people raised in different contexts. Cross-cultural studies of comparative nature are by necessity quasi-experimental, since individuals cannot be randomly assigned to different treatment conditions. Despite this limitation, the quest to understand (and maybe even predict) any emergent differences and similarities is necessary for a truly human psychology. In this chapter, I outline four different approaches that may contribute to this endeavour. These are: (1) culture-level studies, (2) studies unpackaging culture–behaviour links at the individual level, (3) cross-level studies and (4) experimental priming studies. However, I also critically examine the potential of these approaches to answer the question that is being asked, namely uncovering the nature of the link between culture and behaviour. To address this link, I also briefly need to discuss another central theme of the current volume, namely what we understand by culture. A consideration of definitions of culture in light of the four approaches to understanding the culture–behaviour/attitude link will lead to the identification of some inconsistencies and paradoxes. I start off by providing a very brief review of definitions of culture and then discuss two methodological issues (equivalence, isomorphism) that have some relevance for the following discussion.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Fundamental Questions in Cross-Cultural Psychology , pp. 190 - 213Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011
References
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