3. Approaches used to study cultures
2010-9-26
Indigenous
Sample meaning of keywords in
the culture, e.g.
Cultural
Sample ethnographic (民族志的)
information, e.g.
Cross-cultural
Sample information across
cultures, e.g.
Incorporating Knowledge and Learning for a Better Performance
4. Contents
2010-9-26
Dimensions contrast three approaches
1
Differences in methodology
2
Advantages and disadvantages
3
Summary and forecast
4
Incorporating Knowledge and Learning for a Better Performance
7. Ethnographic
method
Culture
distance large
Compatible w
ith collectivist
culture perspe
ctive
Study their
own culture
Focus on
meaning of
keywords of
culture
Equivalent
measurement
Culture dista
nce small
Compatible
with individua
list culture pe
rspective
Differences in methodology
2010-9-26
Indigenous Cultural
Cross-
cultural
Incorporating Knowledge and Learning for a Better Performance
8. Advantages and disadvantages of
2010-9-26
Advantages
Get to the
heart of a
culture
Findings
can be used
as data
source
Indigenous
Disadvantages
Mainstream
psychologists
pay few
attention
Lack of
criterion
Incorporating Knowledge and Learning for a Better Performance
9. Advantages and disadvantages of
2010-9-26
Advantages
The only
one to be
used while
cultural
distance are
large
Same as
indigenous
Cultural
Disadvantages
Same as
indigenous:
lack of
criterion
Incorporating Knowledge and Learning for a Better Performance
10. Advantages and disadvantages of
2010-9-26
Advantages
Can provide
generalizations
about universal
and culture-
specific
phenomina
Measure
concepts both
emic and etic
Cross-cultural
Disadvantages
Can’t be
used in a
wide cultural
distance
May not be
strictly
equivalent
Incorporating Knowledge and Learning for a Better Performance
13. Reference:
Harry C. Triandis. Dialectics between cultural and cross-
cultural psychology. Asian Journal of Social Psychology
(2000) 3: 185-195.
2010-9-26
Incorporating Knowledge and Learning for a Better Performance