A Self-Anchoring Instrument and Analytical Procedure for Reducing Cultural Bias in Cross-Cultural Research

Abstract

A non-culture-bound survey instrument & analytic procedure developed for making cross-cultural comparisons was tested on 9 samples of students from 7 countries: the US, West Germany, Japan, Singapore, Argentina, Nigeria, & India. This method was found to tap reliably two apparently universal motivational dimensions (power & control) that could be used as a basis for comparing different cultures. This approach offers the possibility of cross-cultural assessments with a minimum amount of cultural bias, & may enable researchers to view one culture from the point of another culture.