The Asia-Pacific Values Survey 2010–2014: Cultural Manifold Analysis of National Character

Abstract

The Institute of Statistical Mathematics has been conducting a longitudinal survey on Japanese national character since 1953. From 1971, this survey was extended to include cross-national comparative surveys and people of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii, the West Coast of the United States, and Brazil. The cross-national survey primarily focuses on comparing social values, ways of thinking and feeling, and other relevant characteristics of people from various nations. This study investigates conditions under which meaningful cross-national comparability of social survey data is guaranteed, despite differences in languages and statistical sampling methods. Over the past 14 years, focusing on Asian countries, we have carried out the East Asia Values Survey (2002–2005), the Pacific Rim Values Survey (2004–2009), and the Asia-Pacific Values Survey (2010–2014). In this introductory paper to the special issue, we discuss the development of our research paradigm, termed cultural manifold analysis (CULMAN), and provide an overview of our past surveys. We conclude with comments on our future research.