Cultural Differences Research Articles

Global Supply Chain Information Sharing Platforms: Challenges, Opportunities, and Trends

With the deepening process of globalization, the rapid development of information technology and the diversification of logistics methods, supply chain management faces increasingly complex challenges. This study explores the future development trends, challenges and opportunities of information sharing platforms in global supply chains. In global supply chains, information sharing platforms are of great significance. It facilitates real-time data exchange and collaboration among supply chain segments and help improve supply chain transparency, flexibility and efficiency. However, global supply chain information sharing faces many challenges, including problems in information security, technical standards, cultural differences, and laws and regulations. In response to these challenges, this paper proposes future directions for developing a global supply chain information sharing platform, including digitization, automation, cross-platform cross-border collaboration, data security and privacy protection, application of new technologies, and flexibility and adaptability. This study provides useful insights and guidance for future global supply chain management by exploring the global supply chain information sharing platform.

The Impact of Changes in Population Structure on the Economic Development in China and the US

Abstract: China and the United States are both undergoing notable shifts in their population dynamics, marked by longer life expectancy and fewer births. This shift is resulting in population aging, with a growing proportion of elderly people compared to younger generations. Studying the impact of population changes on economic development offers valuable guidance for policymakers in China and the US. The research will utilize statistical analysis, data collection, literature review, and comparative case studies as its methodologies. And it informs effective policies in healthcare, education, retirement, and workforce planning. Both China and the United States are witnessing demographic changes marked by aging populations, impacting labor force participation, healthcare expenses, and social security outlays. And both nations confront challenges in maintaining skilled workforces and have implemented policies like fertility incentives, immigration reform, and education investments to address these issues. However, the impacts of demographic changes vary significantly between the two countries. This is due to differences in government policies and culture, such as immigration and fertility policies. Therefore, each country needs to address issues based on the actual changes in its population structure. By leveraging mutual learning and implementing tailored policies, both China and the United States can adeptly navigate demographic shifts, fostering sustainable growth and prosperity.

Analisis Pengaruh Lingkungan dalam Pembangunan Ibu Kota Negara (IKN) sebagai Kejahatan Lingkungan

This research aims to find out what influences arise from the development of the Indonesian Capital City. The method used in this research is literature review research which involves reviewing and critically evaluating existing literature sources. Literature reviews contain descriptions of theories, findings and other research materials obtained from reference materials to serve as a basis for research. The results of the research show that with the development of the Archipelago Capital City, there are various influences that will be experienced in the future, starting from the influence of cultural differences, disrupting the ecosystem of living things that previously existed in the Archipelago Capital environment, as well as a reduction in oxygen. due to development around forest areas in the Indonesian Capital City.

An Eastern Look at a Western Dilemma: Cross-Cultural Differences in Action-Balanced Trolley Dilemmas

Moral judgment has been extensively studied utilizing traditional trolley-like sacrificial dilemmas. However, by building on Western philosophies and relying on WEIRD samples, this approach has potentially introduced a Western-centric bias to our understanding of the morality of sacrificial harm, by (a) assuming an inherent opposition between utilitarian and deontological morality and (b) underestimating cultural differences on the moral value of inaction. To address this bias, our study examined cross-cultural differences in moral judgment using an adapted methodology that equally weighs action/inaction framing and considers utilitarian and deontological choices separately. The findings demonstrate that Chinese participants ( n = 273) embraced a more holistic moral construct with utilitarian and deontological moral approaches being positively correlated, whereas American participants ( n = 240) viewed them as opposing to each other. Moreover, we also found that Chinese participants were more, rather than less utilitarian than American participants in trolley-like dilemmas when balancing action and inaction.

Keys to managing university reputation from the students’ perspective

University reputation is a decisive factor in the management, positioning, sustainability, competitiveness, differentiation, and success of universities. However, the measurement of university performance is often communicated through international rankings, which are frequently criticized for not considering the student's perception, who is the primary user of the educational service. For this reason, the objective is to analyze how students' experiences and their perceived value of the educational process influence the final reputation of universities in two different contexts: Colombia and Spain. Additionally, the results of these relationships are contrasted with the cultural differences and educational systems of both countries. The methodology used is quantitative by means of the formulation and demonstration of a structural equation model, with 385 surveys collected from undergraduate students in Colombia and 333 from undergraduate students in Spain. The results confirmed that student experience influences both perceived value and reputation, and perceived value influences the reputation of the university, likewise, the student experience has an indirect effect on reputation through perceived value, with consistent findings in both countries.

Investigating Translation Students’ Challenges in Rendering Arabic Idioms and Proverbs into English: Insights and Recommendations

This study investigates the challenges faced by 4th-year students majoring in Translation at Al-Buraimi University College in Oman when translating proverbs and idioms from Arabic into English. These expressions pose particular difficulties in translation due to their cultural and linguistic specificity, often requiring more than literal translation to convey their intended meaning accurately in the target language. Understanding these challenges is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of translation education programs and improving students’ proficiency in handling idiomatic expressions. The findings showed that 4th-year translation students experienced three main difficulties in translating proverbs and idioms, ranging from the semantic and syntactic fields to cultural differences. First, semantically speaking, they struggled to grasp the meaning of the source text and find the closest equivalent proverb or idiom in the English language. Second, from the syntactic perspective, learners showed several deficiencies in making a correct structure in English. Third, the high percentage of wrong answers revealed a lack of cultural awareness regarding the target culture. This research employs qualitative methods to identify common difficulties that students encounter, offering insights into potential strategies and pedagogical approaches to address these challenges effectively. By focusing on idiomatic expressions and proverbs, this study contributes to the broader discourse on translation education and highlights the importance of cultural competence in achieving accurate and nuanced translations.

Research on the Communication Techniques of the Official Language of the Two Sessions

The Premier’s answer to questions from Chinese and foreign journalists held after the “Two Sessions” is a typical foreign affairs occasion that uses official languages more frequently and involves a wide range of fields. Therefore, a large number of standardized and politically sensitive official languages are used in questioning and answering. Translators need to input and output two completely different languages and cultures during the process of consecutive transmission, and cultural differences will inevitably bring difficulties to translators during translation. The translation of official languages is undoubtedly a clear example. Translators can only successfully complete their interpretation work by finding the patterns through diligent training and extensive accumulation. By analyzing the official translation and the author’s translation, the author summarizes the six major characteristics of official language in press conferences, namely the extensive use of subjectless sentences, the extensive use of four character forms, the lack of coherence between sentences, the extensive use of verbs, the inclusion of a large number of idioms and idioms, and the inclusion of traditional Chinese cultural elements. The author attempts to explore the communication skills of official language in press conferences based on these six characteristics, in order to improve the quality of interpretation.

30 Access to Autism Spectrum Disorder services for marginalized families in Canada: A scoping review

Abstract Background In Canada, despite universal healthcare, immigrant and racially marginalized families face unique barriers when accessing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services for their children. Exploring these experiences is critical to inform the federal government’s efforts to create a national autism strategy that serves children and families with ASD in Canada. Objectives We conducted a scoping review of immigrant, refugee, and racially marginalized families’ access to, utilization, and experiences with ASD services in Canada. Design/Methods The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology was used. A literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in August 2023. English and French-language qualitative studies describing the experiences of marginalized families in Canada with accessing and/or using ASD services for their child <18 years were included. To assess eligibility of search results, title, abstract, and full-text screening were conducted independently by two reviewers. For included studies, two reviewers extracted data and appraised articles using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist. Results There were 4,489 search results. After de-duplication, 3,804 studies remained. Of these studies, 12 met inclusion criteria – representing 320 immigrant caregivers living in Ontario (n=167), Quebec (n=151), and British Columbia (n=2). Caregivers immigrated from Africa (n=55), Latin America (n=43), Europe (n=25), Asia (n=13), North America (n=11), the Middle East (n=4), and unreported (n=169). Of note, no studies focused on refugees. Common barriers when accessing ASD services were related to: difficulties navigating the health system (wait times, limited resources in the public system, high costs for private services, lack of collaboration between school and healthcare providers), challenges interacting with service providers (feeling unheard, discrimination, lack of continuity of care), and cultural differences (regarding ASD, language barriers, social isolation). In contrast, families identified supportive healthcare and school personnel, provision of culturally-specific multilingual resources, and parent-led peer support networks as key facilitators to ASD service access and use. Conclusion These results highlight gaps in existing research, especially around the experiences of refugee families. Our findings reiterate the importance of greater caregiver involvement in informing evidence-based recommendations to improve Canadian service provision, policy, and research. This national focus is especially relevant, given that 23% of Canadians in the most recent 2021 census are landed immigrants – representing the highest proportion of immigrants in Canada to date and emphasizing the growing need for culturally competent care.

Teamwork and Leadership Development in Physical Education

This paper explores the mechanisms of teamwork and leadership development in physical education with the aim of revealing their importance in individual growth and team success. Firstly, the paper defines the concepts of teamwork and leadership, emphasising their key role in modern society. Next, the paper analyses how physical education can effectively develop these competencies through practical activities and educational strategies. Specifically, teamwork is developed in physical activity through joint training, tactical co-ordination during matches and division of roles, while leadership is promoted through role-playing, challenging activities and feedback and reflection. In addition, the paper discusses the major challenges faced during implementation, including resource constraints, low student participation, inadequate teacher training and cultural differences, and proposes solutions accordingly. By optimising resource allocation, increasing student participation, enhancing teacher training and promoting cultural integration, physical education can more effectively promote teamwork and leadership development. The paper concludes by summarising the comprehensive value of physical education in fostering teamwork and leadership, and calls for sustained attention and solutions to implementation challenges.

«Культурный шок» как необходимый этап процесса адаптации иностранных студентов-медиков в профессиональной среде российских вузов

The article examines the phenomenon of “cultural shock” experienced by foreign students in the professional environment of a medical university, as well as the difficulties faced by students during their first years of study. “Cultural shock” is presented not as a barrier to development, but as a necessary stage and challenge, through overcoming which the process of adaptation begins. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that the adaptation of foreign students in a Russian university is a complex process that requires an integrated approach and a systematic adaptation program. Successful adaptation necessitates creating conditions that take into account cultural, national, ethnic, and racial (religious) differences. The author presents the results of a study conducted at Volgograd State Medical University among foreign students.

Teaching Strategies in Business English Translation Based on Ecological Translation

This paper addresses the singularity of the teaching evaluation system and the limited practical teaching resources in business English translation. It proposes a diversified teaching evaluation system based on ecological translation, expands practical teaching resources, and emphasizes the importance of teaching cultural differences and strengthening ecological translation theory. This approach aims to innovate and optimize the teaching mode of business English translation, thereby improving the quality of teaching and promoting students’ deep understanding and application skills of business English. Consequently, this strategy brings new opportunities for development in the field of business English education.

Restoring the question of culture: identity, essence and the unknowability of difference

Throughout the 20th century the question of culture was a central pillar of social scientific thought. From Durkheim to Levi-Strauss, from Stuart Hall to Dennis Cosgrove, the question of culture and cultural difference was a touchstone for understanding the structures, norms and expectations that organised society. Yet, today the concept has disappeared from the academic landscape, including geography, where it is absorbed into other debates and terms, or discarded as an antiquated essentialist construct. Despite pressing political debates about culture wars, identity politics, cultural appropriation and nativism, there seems to be little interest in discussing, debating, much less theorising, the concept of culture as a credible explanatory tool. The aim of this lecture is two-fold: first it explores what has been lost by forsaking the question of culture (in geography and elsewhere); and second, it endeavours to reframe the question of culture in terms that emancipate it from the problem of difference. Indeed, at its heart, I argue that while geographers commonly study difference as an obvious empirical fact of life, emerging and receding at various scales, the nature of difference itself is unknowable. Yet rather than seeing this as an obstacle to theorising culture, the lecture uses it as an invitation to think culture differently: culture not as an explanation for difference but as an elucidation of the phenomenon of claiming difference. The lecture will focus on explaining this distinction and how it fundamentally changes the question of culture. The plenary lecture explores and develops arguments examined in my forthcoming monograph, Dreams of Presence: a Geographic Theory of Culture (University of Toronto Press, 2024).

Discussion on the Differences between Chinese and Western Cultures and Intercultural Translation

Due to different geographical backgrounds and development histories, there are certain cultural differences between China and Western countries, which often lead to cultural conflicts and seriously affect the efficiency and effectiveness of cultural exchanges. In the context of accelerating economic globalization and integration, as well as increasing cooperation among countries, in order to ensure the accuracy of translation, it is necessary to have a proficient and accurate understanding of the cultural differences between China and the West. By relying on these cultural differences, we can improve communication patterns and continuously enhance intercultural translation skills.

Canadian perspectives on loneliness; digital communication as meaningful connection.

This perspective piece considers loneliness and its relationship to communication, connection, and technology by reviewing the origins and lessons from the field. It begins with a search for an operational definition, then examines the differences between experiential (situational/isolation-based) and existential (continuous, non-situational) loneliness. Technology is addressed as both a hindrance and a tool for alleviating loneliness with the example of companion robots as an emerging technology for loneliness mitigation. Cultural differences in experiences of loneliness, specifically as a public health issue, are in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Concepts of social and emotional loneliness, individualism and collectivism, socioeconomic status, vulnerability, and lived experience are explored and provide an emphasis on 'meaningful connection' in the study of loneliness.

A comparison of general surgery training programmes across 11 countries: improving understanding of the experience level of international medical graduates in the UK.

Within the past five years there has been a significant increase in the number of international medical graduates (IMGs) joining the United Kingdom's (UK) workforce. Having mentors and supervisors who understand the needs of IMGs and clinical and cultural differences in the workplace can benefit in the transition to working in a new country. Improving knowledge of and understanding differences between general surgical training programmes and grades across different countries could therefore aid in the support of IMGs within the UK. Data on general surgical training programmes of the top ten countries for the primary medical qualifications of IMGs in the UK were collected to provide comparison with the UK training programme. The following countries were included: UK, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Ireland, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Romania, Iraq and South Africa. Training programme lengths ranged from 3 to 10 years. Only some training programmes provide additional training and qualification in sub-specialisation in general surgery. Other differences included a requirement for internship/non specialist training prior to training, differences in lengths of time spent in other surgical specialties and a requirement for research. Understanding the training programmes of other countries may help UK surgeons to understand the prior experience of IMGs and enable them to provide better training and support.

Language Teaching and Curricular Practices: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Language teaching has evolved over the decades, driven by advancements in educational theories and the growing need for learners to communicate effectively in a globalized world. Curricular practices in language education have shifted from traditional grammar-based approaches to more communicative and task-oriented models. However, the implementation of these curricula varies across different contexts, raising questions about their effectiveness and adaptability. This comprehensive literature review aims to analyze the current trends, challenges, and best practices in language teaching and curriculum design. By synthesizing findings from empirical studies, the review examines how various curricular approaches impact language proficiency, learner engagement, and teaching methodologies. The study also explores the role of institutional support and teacher training in facilitating successful language education reforms. The review finds that communicative and task-based curricula significantly improve language proficiency and learner motivation. However, successful implementation requires adequate teacher preparation, appropriate resource allocation, and flexibility in curriculum design. Additionally, challenges such as cultural differences, institutional rigidity, and assessment practices can hinder the effectiveness of innovative curricular models. In conclusion, while communicative and task-based approaches show promise, their success is highly context-dependent. Future research should focus on developing adaptable curriculum models that accommodate diverse educational settings and explore long-term outcomes of these approaches.

Conditioned by the system: student selection and parental involvement in high school admissions in Taiwan

Studies using cross-country comparisons argue that the benefits of parental involvement depend on the educational setting in which it exists. However, contextual and cultural differences likely transcend the differences observed across educational systems. Instead, this study compares the educational advantages of parents’ school-based involvement across different admissions systems in a single society. I draw on the case of Taiwan, where high schools select students through both applications and exams. The findings show that parental involvement is positively associated with children’s high school placements in both admissions systems. However, students with privileged class backgrounds reap greater rewards from parental involvement in the application system than those in the exam system. The marginal effects of parental involvement in applications systems are also considerably stronger than those in exam systems. The results of direct comparisons illustrate that institutional settings critically shape the benefits students accrue from parental involvement. Conceptualizing parental involvement as a measure of cultural capital, this study highlights educational systems’ role in conditioning how cultural capital contributes to educational inequality.

A Comprehensive Review of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in Modern Classrooms

Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) has become a dominant methodology in language education, emphasizing interaction and practical communication skills over traditional grammar-focused approaches. With the increasing need for language learners to develop real-world communicative competence, CLT has been widely adopted in modern classrooms across various educational contexts. However, its implementation faces challenges such as cultural differences, teacher preparedness, and institutional constraints. This comprehensive review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of CLT in contemporary language teaching settings. This study uses a systematic review methodology, analyzing research articles, case studies, and reports published in the last two decades. The review focuses on both qualitative and quantitative studies that assess CLT’s impact on language proficiency, learner motivation, and classroom engagement. It also explores barriers to successful CLT implementation, including teacher training and resource limitations. The findings suggest that CLT has a significant positive impact on learners’ communicative competence and motivation, especially in immersive environments. However, the success of CLT varies depending on the classroom context, cultural backgrounds, and teacher expertise. Moreover, while CLT fosters a more interactive learning experience, challenges such as inadequate teacher training and a lack of suitable materials often hinder its full potential. In conclusion, CLT remains an effective approach to language teaching, but its success is contingent on overcoming implementation barriers. Further research is needed to address these challenges and to explore how CLT can be adapted to different learning environments.

A Review of Science and Conservation Management for the Cumberland Sound Beluga Population

For many centuries, belugas, or white whales (Delphinapterus leucas), have been a major source of subsistence and cultural identity for the Inuit living along the shores of Cumberland Sound, southeastern Baffin Island. During the late 1800s and first half of the twentieth century, the whales were also heavily exploited commercially for their oil and skins. By the late 1960s and early 1970s it had become clear that the beluga population was greatly reduced from its historical abundance, and efforts began to limit the harvest and monitor the population. The purposes of this paper are to (i) provide a synthesis of developments in Cumberland Sound beluga science and harvest management since 1980 and (ii) describe and discuss efforts to improve the conservation status of the beluga population. Despite large investments in research since the transition to co-management under the Nunavut Agreement, much uncertainty and disagreement remains. Best scientific estimates of current beluga numbers are in the range of 1000 – 1500, with no clear evidence of an increasing or decreasing trend. Officially reported annual landings of harvested whales for the Baffin Island community of Pangnirtung in recent years have ranged between 15 (1993) and 52 (2006), with an average of around 40 whales. Ongoing known or potential threats identified by hunters and scientists include overharvest, ecosystem (including climate-driven) change, interactions with commercial fisheries, predation by killer whales, and stress due to vessel noise. Addressing these issues will require continued research and improved relations between Inuit and the government. Fresh approaches are needed. Newly available analytical and procedural tools may help to overcome longstanding issues that are deeply embedded in cultural and philosophical differences.

Analyzing and Strategizing the Emergency Language Landscape: A Case Study of Sanya City, China

The construction of language landscape for urban emergency services is an important part of public services. As a current city for the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, Sanya City has a unique natural environment and is also a hotbed of various natural disasters in island cities. The challenges faced by emergency language services in Sanya City are not only how to effectively communicate emergency information to domestic citizens, but also how to cross language and cultural differences to ensure that all tourists can understand and follow emergency instructions. Against this background, it is of great significance to study the emergency language landscape of Sanya City.