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Methodological Issues in Positive Psychology Research with Diverse Populations: Exploring Strengths Among Chinese Adults

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Perspectives on the Intersection of Multiculturalism and Positive Psychology

Part of the book series: Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology ((CAPP,volume 7))

Abstract

In this chapter, we will discuss some issues in multicultural positive psychology research. A general discussion on common methodological issues will be provided first. We will then discuss the following four methodological issues: linguistic equivalence, conceptual equivalence, metric equivalence, and functional equivalence. Linguistic equivalence is achieved if all items of two questionnaires in different languages have identical meanings. Conceptual equivalence refers to whether the same concept represents the same set of behaviour in different cultures. Metric equivalence focuses on the psychometric properties of the same questionnaire in different language versions. Functional equivalence refers to whether the same behaviour or concept plays the same function role in different cultures. Our research on well-being (happiness), posttraumatic growth, and character strengths among Chinese adults will be used for illustration. Since positive psychology is developed in the era of globalization, there is the need to better understand the nuances of culture and positive psychology.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Office: Y7315, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Samuel M. Y. Ho Ph.D. & Tina L. Rochelle

  2. Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore

    Lawrence S. C. Law

  3. Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Wenjie Duan

  4. Tsinghua-Rocfly Academy of Education, Institute of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Yu Bai

  5. Department of Palliative Medicine, Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shih-Ming Shih

Authors
  1. Samuel M. Y. Ho Ph.D.
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  2. Tina L. Rochelle
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  3. Lawrence S. C. Law
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  4. Wenjie Duan
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  5. Yu Bai
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  6. Shih-Ming Shih
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samuel M. Y. Ho Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology & Child Development, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, USA

    Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti

  2. Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Lisa M. Edwards

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Ho, S.M.Y., Rochelle, T.L., Law, L.S.C., Duan, W., Bai, Y., Shih, SM. (2014). Methodological Issues in Positive Psychology Research with Diverse Populations: Exploring Strengths Among Chinese Adults. In: Teramoto Pedrotti, J., Edwards, L. (eds) Perspectives on the Intersection of Multiculturalism and Positive Psychology. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8654-6_4

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