Cross-cultural Model Research Articles

IMPROVING THE PROCESS OF FORMING AND USING A CROSS-CULTURAL MODEL OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN THE ORGANIZATION

The paper substantiates the need to form a cross-cultural model of personnel management in the context of modern socio-economic relations. Based on analizing the main definitions presented in the special literature, the article clarifies the content of the economic concept of "cross-cultural model of organization's personnel management". The nature of the cross-cultural model of management of a particular organization directly depends on the characteristics of the dominant types of cross-cultural differences in the personnel structure. On this basis, the article provides a classification of cross-culturalism types by the most significant socio-demographic and economic features. One of the most important methodological problems of cross-cultural management in general and substantiation of a rational cross-cultural model of personnel management, in particular, is quantitative assessment of the significance of cross-cultural differentiation of the personnel composition of an organization. In this regard, the paper proposes a comprehensive index of cross-cultural differentiation of the organization's staff. In addition, the main groups of indicators included in the proposed comprehensive index of cross-cultural differentiation of the organization's staff are presented, and the logic of including individual private indicators is characterized. Finally, the interrelation between the types of cross-cultural differences in the organization and the proposed index of cross-cultural differentiation of the organization's staff is demonstrated.

A Cross-Cultural Analysis for Plastic Waste Perception of Students from Romania and Turkey

The article brings to attention a cross cultural model related to the perception of students in relation to the current problem of plastic waste. To create the model, a questionnaire was applied online in two countries at the same time, among students from different specializations. The survey was structured in several parts, with the first part meant to identify individual characteristics of the responders, the second part to identify their knowledge about plastic, determine their beliefs in the new material—bioplastic, their preference in using plastic or bioplastic, and the last part meant to determine students’ attitude towards the environment. The model wants to highlight the preferences and knowledge of students about plastic, the degree of information and students’ knowledge about plastic waste, and if these are influenced by culture; in our case, the country was considered. Also, we established that gender or specialization have no influence on the perception of bioplastic. A total of 39.79% of the students from both countries participate in and attend conferences about nature protection and plastic waste, and only 58.69% of the students do not participate in any conferences about nature conservation or recycling materials. As a conclusion, we can mention that Turkish students are more responsible and more active in environmental activities regarding plastic waste in comparison with Romanian students. In comparison with Romanian students, Turkish students are more careful when it comes to recycling waste plastic and when choosing products that are less harmful to nature. The young generation is open to selective recycling, even if they sometimes do not follow the established rules. Based on this model, common problems can be identified and universities, as incubators of ideas, can welcome the use of the necessary methods and tools to stimulate care and students’ awareness of the environment and its protection.

The Japanese Paradox: Between Physical And Psychological Well-Being In Japanese Approaches To The Obesity Epidemic

Using an anthropological approach that emphasizes understanding the total social and political context of eating behavior, I draw on ethnographic research in Japan in order to understand factors that enable or mitigate obesity. Japan is an important comparative example in obesity research because of its low obesity rates despite being a wealthy nation with affordable access to high-caloric foods. This is found to be an outcome of social and institutional processes that limit food intake and stigmatize weight, producing desirable outcomes in physical health but through pressures that have negative implications for psychological/emotional health. Consequently, while Japan provides an intriguing cross-cultural model for weight control, the possibility or desirability of replicating this elsewhere may be limited.

Supporting Solidarity

Supporting Solidarity

Cross-culture in religious realm due to migration

The main purpose of this study is to understand how the ‘laws’ of the cross-cultural model apply to cross-religions/interreligious communications with populations from different cultures amid migration. The aim is to identify the steps in which the cross-culture model generally works and if they apply the same way to the religious realm or not. Being able to navigate through different cultural nuances is a key-skill for us all nowadays, amid globalization, migration, and across borders exchange, while religious/spiritual aids can be a beneficial factor in such a ‘new’ environment.

Psychological First Aid Practices Applied By Humanitarian Responders during Disasters in Kakamega County, Kenya

The need for Psychological first aid (PFA) is very significant during a disaster impact or any other traumatic event. Globally it was used in the United States of America following September 11th 2001 bombing, regionally in Liberia during Ebola outbreak in 2014-2015 and locally in Kenya during Westgate mall terror attack in September 24th 2013. The study objective was to examine PFA practices applied by humanitarian responders during disaster response because of a literature gap in PFA effectiveness. There is additional academic literature as existing research only explains PFA elements and its delivery process, however, there lacks evidence on effectiveness but this study has filled that gap. In terms of policy front, there existed a gap in Kakamega County disaster policy as it partially addresses PFA during disaster recovery. A conceptual framework consisting of self-efficacy theory, coping theory, disaster cross cultural counseling model and Community-based mental health and psychosocial support model was used to analyze PFA effectiveness. A descriptive research design was used, descriptive and inferential statistics were obtained by using SPSS software version 28 and excel spreadsheets respectively for data analysis. The study findings revealed that the most applied element is social connectedness at 92.2% and the least is hope at 56.2%. The study concludes that all PFA elements are not incorporated well enough therefore a detailed approach is required. The study recommends Kakamega County to maintain an effective system linking County Disaster committee, humanitarian organizations and local responders for improved disaster response and recovery.

Different models of anthropomorphism across cultures and ontological limits in current frameworks the integrative framework of anthropomorphism.

Anthropomorphism describes the tendency to ascribe human characteristics to nonhuman agents. Due to the increased interest in social robotics, anthropomorphism has become a core concept of human-robot interaction (HRI) studies. However, the wide use of this concept resulted in an interchangeability of its definition. In the present study, we propose an integrative framework of anthropomorphism (IFA) encompassing three levels: cultural, individual general tendencies, and direct attributions of human-like characteristics to robots. We also acknowledge the Western bias of the state-of-the-art view of anthropomorphism and develop a cross-cultural approach. In two studies, participants from various cultures completed tasks and questionnaires assessing their animism beliefs, individual tendencies to endow robots with mental properties, spirit, and consider them as more or less human. We also evaluated their attributions of mental anthropomorphic characteristics towards robots (i.e., cognition, emotion, intention). Our results demonstrate, in both experiments, that a three-level model (as hypothesized in the IFA) reliably explains the collected data. We found an overall influence of animism (cultural level) on the two lower levels, and an influence of the individual tendencies to mentalize, spiritualize and humanize (individual level) on the attribution of cognition, emotion and intention. In addition, in Experiment 2, the analyses show a more anthropocentric view of the mind for Western than East-Asian participants. As such, Western perception of robots depends more on humanization while East-Asian on mentalization. We further discuss these results in relation to the anthropomorphism literature and argue for the use of integrative cross-cultural model in HRI research.

Exploring the Reliability of a Cross-Cultural Model for Digital Games: A Systematic Review

In recent years, the game industry has become one of the most popular and competitive industries. To quickly expand game markets and attract more game players and consumers, a variety of types of games are developed by the companies and developers. Cross-region games are also common in the current game markets. Consequently, a multi-national competition across different cultures or countries is inevitable. For successful expansion of game market, the existence of cultural differences of game players with various cultural backgrounds is one of the notable issues we cannot ignore. Even though there are studies focusing on the relevant cultural differences, there are no study summarizing the past findings. Additionally, no powerful norm has yet been defined, therefore this paper will investigate whether it is feasible to apply the Hofstedes’ Cultural Dimensions Theory, often utilized in Management, to game industries and to be a reliable guidance for game design and development for cross-culture game players.

Analysis of the Influencing Factors of English Majors’ Cross-Cultural Communicative Competence under Mobile Internet

In order to study the influencing factors of cross-cultural communicative competence of English majors under mobile Internet, firstly, we made an empirical study on cross-cultural communication teaching for English majors. Then, we performed a comparative experiment between the mobile Internet-assisted high school English cross-cultural communication teaching model and the traditional teacher culture teaching-based teaching model. Finally, through questionnaires, informal interviews, and teachers’ observation of the teaching process, this paper aims to make an empirical study on the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile Internet assisted foreign language teachers in cultivating students’ awareness and ability of cross-cultural communication, so as to provide a basis for the follow-up research of cross-cultural communication teaching for English majors. The experimental results show that 93.4% of the students are satisfied with the mobile network-assisted English cross-cultural communication teaching model, and the integration of mobile network technology into English cross-cultural communication teaching has brought great changes to the teaching process. Compared with the traditional teaching mode of “chalk and blackboard,” multimedia organically integrates text, pictures, audio, video, and network, which greatly attracts the attention of teachers and students.

Construction of the Cross-Cultural Interaction Model for International Students Based on Big Data Analysis

Culture is an important feature that distinguishes human beings from animals. Human beings have created and developed various cultures and influenced people’s psychology and behavior in different social forms. With the continuous improvement of China’s international influence and cultural soft power, the number of foreign students studying in China is increasing year by year. In this paper, data mining is carried out on the data of international students, and the cross-cultural interaction model of international students is constructed. According to the characteristics of the research object, this paper explores the influence of cultural novelty and psychological capital on its cross-cultural adaptation in order to provide theoretical basis for the improvement of cross-cultural adaptation. It also promotes the better development of international students and the improvement of international exchange management in colleges and universities by providing some ideas for mental health education and management of international students. The importance of cultural study for international students in China is related not only to the development and improvement of foreign students’ cognitive level of target culture, but also to the external communication of national cultural image.

Research into Teachers’ (Dis)Respect for Learners: A Cross-Cultural Study of English Language Teachers’ and Learners’ Perceptions

A safe learning context begins with teachers-students respectful interaction. This qualitative study drawing on the premises of grounded theory (GT) examined native and nonnative English language teachers’ and learners’ (n = 114) perceptions of teachers’ (dis)respect for learners. Content analysis of focus groups and online interviews revealed three overarching themes: (1) teachers’ interpersonal characteristics, (2) teachers’ insightfulness, and (3) teachers’ occupational attributes. Overall, 14 subthemes emerged. An important finding was that politeness, learners’ self-esteem, and care were the most recurrent subthemes, respectively, raised by all four groups of nonnative teachers (NNTs), nonnative learners (NNLs), native teachers (NTs), and native learners (NLs). Moreover, politeness, care, learners’ self-esteem, dedication, and interest were the five culture-general components of teachers’ (dis)respect for learners because they were mentioned by both natives and nonnatives. Conversely, other subthemes could be considered as culture-specific components because they were raised by either natives (fairness, encouragement, appreciativeness, kindness, punctuality, and learners’ freedom) or nonnatives (helpfulness, patience, and learners’ individuality). Furthermore, the three above-mentioned themes were common to all participants. Therefore, given this diversity within universality, we proposed a cross-cultural model of teachers’ (dis)respect. The pedagogical implications are discussed.

Improving cross-cultural comparability: does school leadership mean the same in different countries?

ABSTRACT Recently, there has been increasing interest in comparing educational leadership measures, such as principal school leadership, using International Large-Scale Assessments (ILSAs) data. However, there are doubts about the uniformity of measurement across countries participating in the ILSAs. There are concerns that the robustness and psychometric characteristics of measures are adversely affected by socio-cultural, economic, political, and linguistic diversity across countries. The current study examines the uniformity of cross-cultural model data for the “principal instructional leadership scale” using the framework and data supplied by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s Teaching and Learning International Surveyis employed to estimate the conceptual measurement model and test measurement invariance across forty-eight countries. Countries are then divided countries into more homogenous groups, based on their socio-demographic characteristics, to test measurement invariance within these sub-groups. The results of this study reveal that, when testing for the fourty-eight countries together, the scale measuring principals’ school leadership is invariant across all countries only at an intermediate level (i.e. metric). This means the factor structures and the factor loadings are equivalent across countries, but the item intercepts are not. However, when testing within sub-groups, improvements in cross-cultural comparability are found. This paper concludes by making suggestions on scale improvement, discussing the implications of this study for policymaking and making recommendations for future research.

CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION TO ACCOMODATE GENERATION GAP IN DISRUPTIVE ERA

This research described about how Cross-Cultural Communication contributes its influence on accommodating the generation gap to improve a social structure in Indonesia, especially on Disruptive Era. In accommodating the generation gap, the cross-cultural communication focus on the patterns of convergence and divergence of communication behaviors, particularly as they relate to the goals of the people for social approval, communication efficiency, and identity. This research was done in Bina Nusantara (BINUS) University, and used a descriptive qualitative method with constructivism paradigm, and coding to analyze the data. The results showed that accommodation in cross-cultural communication can improved the ability on problem-solving skills, collective decisions and can resolved the problem that arise from generation gap to make it become harmonious interactions. The lack of the role in providing information from generation to another generation usually based on the assumption that the other generation already knew the condition, situation and also the meaning behind it as well without any discussion and deeper communication further. Due to the changes in social structure, BINUS creating a cross cultural communication model to accommodate the generation gap in social structure: openness, and engagement, through (for example) creative furniture arrangemement in some classes. The result also shown that engagement between the students and the lecturer will be more powerful in creating values to have a better social condition. The people who willing to build the communication instead of assumed will be more successful in all aspects of cross-cultural communication.

The Antecedents of HR strength in Times of Crisis: An attributional lens

During times of crises, employees turn to their managers for information and guidance. Human resource (HR) research highlights the pivotal role of HR strength, which refers to distinctive, consistent, and consensual information, when communicating messages to staff. However, the literature has remained silent around the antecedents of HR strength. Drawing on attribution theory and crisis management frameworks, we develop and test a longitudinal, multi-level and cross-cultural model of the antecedents of HR strength in times of crisis. More specifically, we examine whether the severity of the crisis influences HR strength, and whether this relationship is influenced by the reliability of the organization and the avoidance uncertainty of the country. To test this model, we conducted a study within the higher education sector (281 fortnight periods, among 33 universities within 13 countries and regions). The results provide insights about the factors that influence the emergence of distinct, consistent, and consensual information during a crisis. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Toward a comprehensive and potentially cross-cultural model of why people engage in collective action: A quantitative research synthesis of four motivations and structural constraints.

Sociopsychological theorizing and research on collective action (e.g., social protests) has mushroomed over the last decade, studying a wide variety of groups, contexts, and cultures. Through a quantitative research synthesis of four motivations for collective action (1,235 effects from 403 samples; total N = 123,707), we summarize and synthesize this body of research into the dual chamber model, a comprehensive and potentially cross-cultural model of collective action. We aim to replicate previous meta-analytic conclusions (about identity, injustice, and efficacy) and break new theoretical ground by (a) integrating a fourth motivation (morality) into the very heart of the psychology of collective action, (b) extending these four motivations to advantaged group members acting in solidarity with the disadvantaged, and (c) integrating theoretically relevant structural (i.e., cultural and other contextual) constraints. Results substantiated the dual chamber model as all four motivations yielded unique, positive, medium-sized effects and interrelationships were positive (particularly among morality and identity, conceptualized as the dual chambers of the protester's beating heart). Meta-analytic structural equation modeling supported the added value of including morality. Moreover, findings confirmed that the strongest specific motivations were emotional injustice and politicized identification, while newly adding moral conviction to that list. Finally, the four motivations extended to advantaged group members acting in solidarity with the disadvantaged, while only the identity motivation was constrained by theoretically relevant cultural dimensions and values (e.g., collectivism and hierarchy). We discuss the implications and limitations of the dual chamber model for integrative theorizing, innovative research, and the practice of collective action. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Contesting Sacred Space in the Estado da India: Asserting Cultural Dominance over Religious Sites in Goa

During the process of conquest and subjugation, Portuguese colonial enclaves in India saw assertions of religious dominance that conform to a model developed by researchers of the Antagonistic Tolerance Project, which studies, comparatively across cultures and historic eras, sacred sites that are shared and contested by different religious communities. At Goa, the Portuguese conquered a Muslim-ruled city of mainly Hindu inhabitants and rebuilt it, creating an imperial European Christian capital for their Asian colonies. There, Roman Catholic missionary orders established churches and shrines on sites previously occupied by Muslim mosques and Hindu temples (which had themselves often been constructed over pre-existing sacred spaces). Portuguese authorities in Goa, after a period of tolerance while the colonizers consolidated their gains, attempted to eliminate all non-Christian religious sites within the colonized territory. In India the Portuguese employed specific methods to establish cultural dominance. This article interprets these methods within a comparative cross-cultural model.

A framework for managing innovation in higher education: lessons learnt from the UAE iPad initiative

Purpose Managing educational innovation in higher education institutions is a complex process that requires specific strategies based on research and proven frameworks. The aim of this paper was to examine how Bolman and Deal’s (2003) theoretical framework can be used to analyse organisational change processes and to evaluate the progress and outcomes of an educational innovation initiative at a university in the Gulf. This educational innovation involved the use of iPads in curricular practices to enhance pedagogical strategies and student learning outcomes. Design/methodology/approach An ethnographic case study methodology was used to make an empirical inquiry that investigated data obtained from direct observations, informal interviews, holistic field notes and documents to better understand a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context. Findings A critical analysis of this iPad initiative suggested that the main areas of leading and managing this innovation, through Bolman and Deal’s framework, were effectively centred around the human resources, structural and political frames but were less affected by the symbolic frame. Originality/value The authors provide suggestions, based on their experiences as faculty members and academic administrators, on how such innovations can be effectively led and managed. In addition, a new cross-cultural model is proposed for managing future educational innovations in higher education, particularly in the Gulf region. This new model could also be used to effectively evaluate the implementation and management of other educational changes such as those precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A model for cross-cultural translation and adaptation of speech-language pathology assessment measures: Application to the Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS©)

Purpose In the absence of a gold standard, this study illustrates the process involved in the cross-cultural translation and adaptation of the FOCUS© and its shortened version, FOCUS-34© (the Parent Form and Instruction Sheet, as well as the Clinician Form and Instruction Sheet), while also determining the social validity and clinical applicability of the translated measure. The target language used as example was Afrikaans, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. Method A two-phase cross-cultural translation model was employed in which Phase 1 (comprising a six-step blind back-translation procedure) was sequentially followed by Phase 2 (social validation and clinical applicability of the measure, using focus groups with stakeholders). Result The extensive process followed in Phase 1 resulted in a clear and appropriate translation acceptable to both stakeholder groups (parents and speech-language pathologists). Both groups questioned the meaning of certain concepts, explored cultural differences and requested the extension of some items. Parents also shared their emotional reactions towards assessment, while therapists focussed on editorial changes to the measures. Conclusion A framework is proposed for cross-cultural translation and adaptation of assessment measures with suitability in the speech-language pathology discipline.

Supplemental Material for Toward a Comprehensive and Potentially Cross-Cultural Model of Why People Engage in Collective Action: A Quantitative Research Synthesis of Four Motivations and Structural Constraints

Supplemental Material for Toward a Comprehensive and Potentially Cross-Cultural Model of Why People Engage in Collective Action: A Quantitative Research Synthesis of Four Motivations and Structural Constraints

Dynamique psychique des patients obèses sévères en demande de chirurgie bariatrique : approche clinique interculturelle

IntroductionThe authors are interested in the problematic of severe obesity, particularly in the underlying psychic function of patients who seek bariatric surgery. They propose an intercultural comparison between France and Turkey by questioning the implication of culture in the psychogenesis of this chronic disease. MethodologyThey represent the results of a first qualitative exploratory section, by the comparative analysis of two clinical cases which are representatives of each of the two countries. This analysis is based on clinical interviews, self-questionnaires and Rorschach Test. ResultsThis cultural comparison shows that two representative clinical cases have antecedents with difficult and traumatic life experiences, mostly based on infancy background. These incidents lead to difficulties of mentalization of affects as it is occurred during the clinical interviews, the self-questionnaires and the process of Rorschach Test. Therefore, the impossibility of this work of psychic transformation leads to Eating Disorders. ConclusionThese initial results call for further construction and validation of a cross-cultural model of severe obesity, allowing in the future to propose international recommendations for the psychological treatment of this chronic disease, especially during bariatric surgery.