The effect of researchers' focus on interpretation of diversity data.
The tendency for intercultural researchers to focus primarily on cultural differences instead of both differences and similarities may reflect the emphasis of current statistical methodology toward cultural distance instead of cultural overlap. The authors proposed the cultural similarity index as a way of assessing the extent of communalities between 2 groups. The authors (a) analyzed research (T. Cox, S. Lobel, & P. L. McLeod, 1991; Y. F. Niemann & J. Dovidio, 1998) that placed a primary emphasis on differences, (b) presented alternative insights gained from a focus on similarities, and (c) explored the implications of a research focus on both cultural differences and similarities.
Ofori-Dankwa
Joseph
J
Department of Management, Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI 48710, USA. oforidan@svsu.edu
Tierman
Andrew
A
D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D012106:Research; D012924:Social Conditions; D012961:Sociology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*