Chapter 4: Methods for Studying Culture and Psychology

Question 1

Methodological Equivalence

Answer 1

In cross-cultural research, the concern with making sure participants from different cultures understand the research questions or situations in equivalent ways.

Question 2

Generalizability

Answer 2

The degree to which research findings about the particular samples studied can be applied to larger or broader populations.

Question 3

Power

Answer 3

The capability of a study to accurately detect an effect (e.g. a cross cultural difference) that exists; a reflection of how well-designed a study is.

Question 4

Independent Variable

Answer 4

In an experiment, the variable or condition that the experimenter manipulates in order to examine its effect on the dependent variable.

Question 5

Dependent Variable

Answer 5

In a experiment, the variable or measure affected by manipulation of the independent variable.

Question 6

Back-Translation

Answer 6

A method of translating research materials from one language to another whereby a translates materials from Language A to Language B and then a different translator translates the materials back from Language B to Language A. The original and twice-translated versions in Language A are then compared so that any discrepancies between them can be resolved.

Question 7

Response Biases

Answer 7

Factors that distort the accuracy of a person’s responses to surveys.

Question 8

Socially Desirable Responding

Answer 8

A response bias in which people’s responses are distorted by their motivation to be evaluated positively by others.

Question 9

Acquiescence Bias

Answer 9

A tendency to agree with most statements one encounters

Question 10

Reference Group Effect

Answer 10

A tendency for people to evaluate themselves by comparing themselves with others from their own culture.

Question 11

Deprivation Effect

Answer 11

A tendency for people to value something more when it is lacking in their culture.

Question 12

Between-Groups Manipulation

Answer 12

A type of experimental manipulation in which different groups of participants receive different levels of independent variable(s).

Question 13

Within-Groups Manipulation

Answer 13

A type experimental manipulation in which each participant receives more than one level of the independent variable.

Question 14

Situation Sampling

Answer 14

A method used for comparing cultures with psychological measures. Situations are generated by participants in more than one culture, and then those situations are presented to different groups from multiple cultures. This method allows us to see both (a) whether situations common in one culture influence people differently than situations common in another culture, and (b) whether people in one culture respond differently than those from another culture.

Question 15

Cultural Priming

Answer 15

A method that makes ideas associated with particular cultural meaning systems more accessible to participants.

Question 16

Unpackaging

Answer 16

Identifying the underlying variables that give rise to different cultural differences.

Question 17

Occam’s Razor

Answer 17

The principle that any theory should make as few assumptions as possible; it maintains that, all else held equal, the simpler theory is more likely to be correct.

Question 18

Culture of Honor

Answer 18

A culture in which people (especially men) strive to protect their reputation through aggression.