Cross Culture Research
An Example of Cross-Cultural Research Complete the following writing assignment in 1-2 pages, double-spaced 12 pt Times New Roman: Bernard Carducci (2003) presents an interesting example of a cross-cultural comparison that involves the study of personal ads. The individualistic culture is represented by the following two ads (from the San Francisco Chronicle): 28 Single White Male, 61, 160 lbs. Handsome, artistic, ambitious, seeks attractive WF, 2429, for friendship, romance, and permanent partnership. Very attractive, independent Single Latino Woman, 29, 56 110 lbs., love fine dining, the theater, gardening, and quiet evenings at home. In search of handsome SWM 2834 with similar interests. On the same day, two ads representing a collectivist culture appeared in the India Tribune (a California newspaper with a readership of immigrants from India): Gujarati Vaishnav parents invite correspondence from never married Gujarati well settled, preferably green card holder from respectable family for green card holder daughter 29 years, 54, good looking, doing CPA. Gujarati Brahmin family invites correspondence from a well cultured, beautiful Gujarati girl for 29 years, 58, 145 lbs. Handsome looking, well settled boy. Carducci points out that the first two ads reflect the individualistic perspective, focusing on the uniqueness of the individual and emphasizing personal qualities and interests. In contrast, the second set of ads reflects the collectivist perspective by emphasizing group membership. For example, it places the name of the family instead of the individual in the ad, it indicates the region from whence they came, and the caste of the family. 1. In which culture would you expect a greater degree of happiness? Why? (Diener, Diener, & Diener, 1995) 2. In which culture would you expect a higher degree of crime rate? Why? (Triandis, 1994) 3. How might students in such cultures react differently to personal success and failure? (Lee & Seligman, 1997) 4. How and why might individuals in these two cultures have different orientations to dealing with time? What would be an easy way to examine cross-cultural comparisons to time orientation? (Levine & Bartlett, 1984)
