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Problems and Strategies When Using Rating Scales in Cross-Cultural Coping Research

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Handbook of Multicultural Perspectives on Stress and Coping

Part of the book series: International and Cultural Psychology ((ICUP))

6. Conclusion

These strategies suggested above cannot solve all the problems associated with the use of rating scales in cross-cultural research on coping, but can help to increase the validity of these methods. No method of research is perfect. Rating scale data will continue to be sometimes difficult to interpret, but nonetheless, by employing some of these strategies, rating scale data can begin to improve the available portrait of ways in which coping is similar and different across cultures.

Some of the most challenging, but important strategies relate to building scales sensitive to coping strategies particularly common outside of North America. Some researchers have sought to diversify the nature of coping strategies receiving attention (e.g., Wong and Ujimoto, 1998) and these efforts are to be applauded. Future research collaborations across cultural groups may be especially helpful in highlighting previously ignored coping constructs. These collaborations can draw from the knowledge of multiple cultural groups to increase the likelihood that coping models specify culturally appropriate constructs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kwantlen University College, Canada

    Roger G. Tweed

  2. University of British Columbia, Canada

    Anita DeLongis

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  1. Graduate Program in Counselling Psychology, Trinity Western University, 7600 Glover Road, Langley, British Columbia, V2Y 1Y1, Canada

    Paul T. P. Wong Ph.D.  & Lilian C. J. Wong Ph.D  & 

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Tweed, R.G., DeLongis, A. (2006). Problems and Strategies When Using Rating Scales in Cross-Cultural Coping Research. In: Wong, P.T.P., Wong, L.C.J. (eds) Handbook of Multicultural Perspectives on Stress and Coping. International and Cultural Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-26238-5_10

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