Definition
Cross-cultural studies are research designs that compare human behaviors across two or more cultures.
Description
Cross-cultural studies involve the systematic comparisons of different cultures that aim to understand variations of human behavior as it is influenced by cultural context. This research approach is primarily concerned with examining how our knowledge about people and their behaviors from one culture may or may not hold for people from another culture [1].
Cross-cultural studies share methodological similarities as any other scientific research study. However, a specific methodological parameter that differentiates cross-cultural studies from other research studies is the sample; specifically, the participation of individuals from different cultural backgrounds. In effect, this methodological distinction reveals the philosophy that cross-cultural studies bring to scientific research. As Matsumoto and Juang [1] have noted, “cross-cultural research not only tests...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Matsumoto, D., & Juang, L. (2003). Culture and psychology (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Berry, J. W., Poortinga, Y. H., Segall, M. H., & Dasen, P. R. (2002). Cross-cultural psychology: Research and applications (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Van de Vijver, F. J. R., & Leung, K. (1997). Methods and data analysis of comparative research. In J. W. Berry, Y. H. Poortinga, & J. Pandey (Eds.), Handbook of cross-cultural psychology (Vol. 1, 2nd ed., pp. 257–300). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Van de Vijver, F. J. R. (2001). Cross-cultural research methods. In N. J. Smelser & P. B. Baltes (Eds.), International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (Vol. 26). Oxford: Elsevier.
Van de Vijver, F. J. R., & Tanzer, N. K. (1997). Bias and equivalence in cross-cultural assessment: An overview. European Review of Applied Psychology, 47, 263–279.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Papayiannis, S., Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous, X. (2011). Cross-Cultural Studies. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_738
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_738
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science