Cross Cultural Researchh

Cross Cultural Research
Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
















Asking Question


By :
Farras Ramadhnoor
Reyhan Ryobudi Pahlawan




Asking Question

Please think of what makes you different from your family and friends!
According to our self there are three different things between me and my family and friends those are personallity, habbitual, and skill. But, the different things between my family is not too far like the differnt things between my friends. Because my mother and my father have growth us. Certainly there is the personallity from our mother or father in our self.

Please think of what you have in common with your family and friends. What do they expect from you to do?
They expect us to be better and can give the good things for them, always pray with them, and the other.

What validity consideration need to be taken into account in cross-cultural research studies?
First, cross-cultural research as comparative research is not unique. All behavioral research is comparative; that is, it involves a comparison of experimental and a control group, e.g., samples of working and non-working wives, husband and wife roles, middle and lower social class consumers, users and non-users of a service, etc. Cross-cultural research is unique in that it considers different cultural settings or "geographical environments'' (Koffka, 1935) that shape consumer behavior and are shaped by consumer attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, it means that we cannot control for the "disturbing'' factors that may create unwanted differences between the samples under study, and it means that we cannot use the same instrument (questionnaire) for both samples in different cultures.
Secondly, consumer research is largely "made in the USA." Concepts and instruments have been developed in the United States and not in the "other" culture of the cross-cultural study. This may introduce "ethnocentrism" in the type of questions we address, the concepts we employ, and the explanations we give of the results.
For instance, the study of "consumer satisfaction" is relevant in a western mass-consumption society but not, or in a different way, in a developing country. Another example is a book by Nieuwenhuijze (1963) reporting the results of an analysis of Islam, that was banned in Indonesia on the grounds that a non-Muslim could not properly examine either the history or the tenets of Islam. A last example is a questionnaire statement: "A good citizen is responsible for shoveling the sidewalk in front of his home" for measuring "social responsibility.'' This statement assumes private ownership of houses, one-family housing, and a climate with snow in winter, and is clearly not applicable in an African country. In that case, we have to measure "social responsibility" with another statement or set of statements.
Thirdly, the terms "cross-cultural" and "cross-national" are used in the literature. I prefer "cross-cultural" because this term reflects more possible differences in consumer behavior than "cross-national." In cross-cultural research we compare consumer behavior in different cultures, including subcultures, e.g. differences between French- and English-speaking Canadians; black and white subcultures; and minority ethnic groups with the majority ethnic group. Many of the problems and caveats that apply for cross-cultural research are also valid for market segmentation studies using the segmentation variables of race, ethnic background, and social class.




What are some key issues to consider when developing instruments in cross-cultural research studies?
Cross-cultural research often involves physicians, nurses, and other health care providers. In studies of fecal and urinary incontinence, cross-cultural research has been applied to quality-of-life comparisons, and instruments have been translated to foreign languages for use in other countries. This report presents some of the principal methodological issues and problems associated with translating questionnaires for use in cross-cultural research in a manner relevant to clinicians and health care practitioners who are aware that, unless these potential problems are addressed, the results of their research may be suspect. Translation is the most common method of preparing instruments for cross-cultural research and has pitfalls that threaten validity. Some of these problems are difficult to detect and may have a detrimental effect on the study results. Identification and correction of problems can enhance research quality and validity. A method for translation and validation is presented in detail. However, the specific validation method adopted is less important than the recognition that the translation process must be appropriate and the validation process rigorous.