The Protestant Work Ethic in Britain and Malaysia

Abstract

Summary Two matched groups of British (N = 73) and Malaysian (N = 73) Ss completed the Mirels-Garrett Protestant ethic scale on which high scores indicate strong beliefs in the Protestant work ethic (PWE) and low scores, weak beliefs. Although there was no significant difference in scores between the three ethnic groups comprising the Malaysian sample (Malay, Indian, Chinese), there were large significant differences between the British and Malaysians: the former had less belief in the PWE. There were also significant sex differences—females had higher scores than males—and socioeconomic differences—working-class Ss had higher scores than middle-class Ss. The results are interpreted in terms of the previous studies of the Protestant work ethic in Asia and the social, cultural, and economic differences between Britain and Malaysia.