Cross-cultural generalization: Using meta-analysis to test hypotheses about cultural variability
Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
Authors
When differences are observed across samples in cross-cultural research, true cultural differences (and sample representativeness) are not the only explanations that ought to be considered. A main thesis of this chapter is that when differences are observed, findings can be due to chance (sampling error) as well as other statistical artifacts (see Hunter & Schmidt, 2004). Testing whether cross-cultural variability in findings is due to real effects of culture or such statistical artifacts is an important step that is essential in cross-cultural research. Addressing the biasing influences of statistical artifacts may help reveal cross-cultural universals. The magnitude of cultural variation in results can be empirically examined using approaches of psychometric meta-analysis. A major contribution that meta-analytic techniques can make to cross-cultural research is to enable researchers to test the cross-cultural generalizability of relationships. In the remainder of this chapter, we review, illustrate, and discuss three unique applications of meta-analysis to examine cross-cultural effects. First, we review and discuss pooling findings across intracultural studies to examine questions of cross-cultural generalizability. Second, we illustrate the value of applying meta-analysis to carefully conducted intercultural studies to examine the same question. Third, we demonstrate the use of meta-analysis to examine transcultural variability using primary data collected from different cultural settings. For each type of application, we offer a brief background, review and present illustrative findings, and discuss contributions and potential limitations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Conducting Multinational Research : Applying Organizational Psychology in the Workplace |
Editors | Ann Marie Ryan, Frederick T. L. Leong, Frederick L. Oswald |
Number of pages | 32 |
Place of Publication | Washington, D. C. |
Publisher | American Psychological Association Inc. |
Publication date | 2012 |
Edition | 1 |
Pages | 91-122 |
ISBN (print) | 978-1-4338-1141-8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
- Management studies - Organzational Psychology
- Business psychology - Organzational Psychology