Cross-cultural differences in a global “survey of world views”

We know that there are cross-cultural differences in psychological variables, such as individualism/collectivism. But it has not been clear which of these variables show relatively the greatestdifferences. The Survey of World Views project operated from the premise that such issuesare best addressed...

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Main Authors: SAUCIER, Gerard, KENNER, Judith, IURINO, Kathryn, MALHAM, Philippe Bou, CHEN, Zhuo, THALMAYER, Amber Gayle, KEMMELMEIER, Markus, TOV, William, ONG, Lay See, LEUNG, Angela K. Y.
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2015
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Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2053
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/3310/viewcontent/Cross_cultural_differences_in_a_global_survey_of_world_views.pdf
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Institution: Singapore Management University
Language: English
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Summary:We know that there are cross-cultural differences in psychological variables, such as individualism/collectivism. But it has not been clear which of these variables show relatively the greatestdifferences. The Survey of World Views project operated from the premise that such issuesare best addressed in a diverse sampling of countries representing a majority of the world’spopulation, with a very large range of item-content. Data were collected online from 8,883individuals (almost entirely college students based on local publicizing efforts) in 33 countriesthat constitute more than two third of the world’s population, using items drawn from measuresof nearly 50 variables. This report focuses on the broadest patterns evident in item data. Thelargest differences were not in those contents most frequently emphasized in cross-culturalpsychology (e.g., values, social axioms, cultural tightness), but instead in contents involvingreligion, regularity-norm behaviors, family roles and living arrangements, and ethnonationalism.Content not often studied cross-culturally (e.g., materialism, Machiavellianism, isms dimensions,moral foundations) demonstrated moderate-magnitude differences. Further studies are neededto refine such conclusions, but indications are that cross-cultural psychology may benefit fromcasting a wider net in terms of the psychological variables of focus.