Invited reaction: Factors affecting cross-cultural adjustment: Training, experience, and individual differences

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Hélène Budworth ◽  
Nadia DeGama
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Factors Affecting

scholarly journals Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Cultural Competency Research: The Revision and Expansion of the Sociocultural Adaptation Construct

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jessie Kaye Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cultural Competency ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Sociocultural Adaptation ◽  
Cultural Empathy ◽  
Analytic Review

<p>International migration trends have heralded a marked increase in intercultural contact, creating a greater need for effective cultural competency in both inter- and intra-cultural situations. The current research programme, positioned within the field of acculturation psychology, examined a specific behavioural aspect of cultural competency known as sociocultural adaptation. Defined as an individual’s acquisition and expression of culturally appropriate behavioural skills used to negotiate interactive aspects of a new cultural setting, an in-depth examination of the sociocultural adaptation construct was provided. Three studies addressed issues concerning the review, revision, and expansion of work on the topic of cross-cultural behavioural competency. Study 1 offered a meta-analytic review of the correlates or antecedents of sociocultural adaptation. Results emphasised the importance of individual differences, such as personality characteristics and motivation, in relation to adaptation difficulties. Suggestions were also provided for future theoretical and applied research regarding how demographic (e.g, age, gender), situational (e.g., language proficiency), and individual differences (e.g., cross-cultural empathy) components relate to and influence an individual’s successful cross-cultural adjustment. Study 2 examined the operationalisation of behavioural competency through revision of an existing measure of sociocultural adaptation (the Sociocultural Adaptation Scale or SCAS) and investigated five adjustment domains: Ecological, interpersonal, personal interests and community involvement, language, and professional/work adjustment. The final study sought to corroborate the factor structure of the revised SCAS and explored the effects of migration motivation and perceived discrimination—two underrepresented variables in the acculturation literature—in relation to cross-cultural adjustment using path analysis techniques. Direct linkages were found between migration motivation and positive psychological outcomes, and behavioural competency and discrimination were found to have significant mediating effects on the relationship between these two variables. The limitations and contributions of these studies are discussed in relation to the existing acculturation psychology literature, and new avenues for theoretical and applied applications of the findings are suggested.</p>

scholarly journals Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Cultural Competency Research: The Revision and Expansion of the Sociocultural Adaptation Construct

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jessie Kaye Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cultural Competency ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Sociocultural Adaptation ◽  
Cultural Empathy ◽  
Analytic Review

<p>International migration trends have heralded a marked increase in intercultural contact, creating a greater need for effective cultural competency in both inter- and intra-cultural situations. The current research programme, positioned within the field of acculturation psychology, examined a specific behavioural aspect of cultural competency known as sociocultural adaptation. Defined as an individual’s acquisition and expression of culturally appropriate behavioural skills used to negotiate interactive aspects of a new cultural setting, an in-depth examination of the sociocultural adaptation construct was provided. Three studies addressed issues concerning the review, revision, and expansion of work on the topic of cross-cultural behavioural competency. Study 1 offered a meta-analytic review of the correlates or antecedents of sociocultural adaptation. Results emphasised the importance of individual differences, such as personality characteristics and motivation, in relation to adaptation difficulties. Suggestions were also provided for future theoretical and applied research regarding how demographic (e.g, age, gender), situational (e.g., language proficiency), and individual differences (e.g., cross-cultural empathy) components relate to and influence an individual’s successful cross-cultural adjustment. Study 2 examined the operationalisation of behavioural competency through revision of an existing measure of sociocultural adaptation (the Sociocultural Adaptation Scale or SCAS) and investigated five adjustment domains: Ecological, interpersonal, personal interests and community involvement, language, and professional/work adjustment. The final study sought to corroborate the factor structure of the revised SCAS and explored the effects of migration motivation and perceived discrimination—two underrepresented variables in the acculturation literature—in relation to cross-cultural adjustment using path analysis techniques. Direct linkages were found between migration motivation and positive psychological outcomes, and behavioural competency and discrimination were found to have significant mediating effects on the relationship between these two variables. The limitations and contributions of these studies are discussed in relation to the existing acculturation psychology literature, and new avenues for theoretical and applied applications of the findings are suggested.</p>

A cross-cultural investigation of design and visual preference of signage information from Hong Kong and Pakistan

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Hassan Iftikhar ◽  
Salman Asghar ◽  
Yan Luximon
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
User Preferences ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Visual Preference ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Visual Preferences ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Colour Coding

Signage design has been considered critically important for wayfinding, being a functional medium of delivering environmental information. Complex institutional environments have several factors affecting the wayfinding, including but not limited to the design of information signage and its visual preference. Visual preferences of information design in wayfinding signage vary, depending on the cultural and individual differences. This study explores the variance in design and visual preferences of wayfinding signage and its influencing elements. Responses through online questionnaire have been accumulated by the participants from Hong Kong and Pakistan based on their design and visual preference of campus wayfinding signage. Questions were asked related to the user preferences for signage colour if in line with the institutional visual identity, mono or multi-colour coding of information and its visual volume. In total, 170 university students and visitors participated in the exploratory study from the respective countries. The results demonstrated that participants of Hong Kong preferred inline colours of signage, along with mono or less colour coding and detailed information. While the other group preferred attractive colours with multi-colour coding and less detailed wayfinding information with pictograms. Individual differences concerning age, literacy level and gender were also computed, however trivial differences have been recorded. This study suggests the need for detailed cross-cultural investigation concerning elements of signage design and visual preference to identify the drivers for culturally consistent university signage.

The role of personality in shaping pandemic response: Systemic sociopolitical factors drive country differences

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Siritzky ◽  
David M Condon ◽  
Sara J Weston
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
State Fragility ◽  
Systemic Factors ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
The Relationship

The current study utilizes the current COVID-19 pandemic to highlight the importance of accounting for the influence of external political and economic factors in personality public-health research. We investigated the extent to which systemic factors modify the relationship between personality and pandemic response. Results shed doubt on the cross-cultural generalizability of common big-five factor models. Individual differences only predicted government compliance in autocratic countries and in countries with income inequality. Personality was only predictive of mental health outcomes under conditions of state fragility and autocracy. Finally, there was little evidence that the big five traits were associated with preventive behaviors. Our ability to use individual differences to understand policy-relevant outcomes changes based on environmental factors and must be assessed on a trait-by-trait basis, thus supporting the inclusion of systemic political and economic factors in individual differences models.

International pharmacy students’ transition to Nottingham: Semi-structured interviews (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yicong Liu
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Teaching Style ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Independent Study ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Learning Ability ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
International Pharmacy ◽  
The Uk

BACKGROUND The transition from China to the UK can be challenging, and there is increasing concern among academics since cross-cultural learning and living may be a challenge for these students. OBJECTIVE To find out international pharmacy students’ worries and challenges as well as benefits on the transition experience from China to the UK. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were used to explore this group of students’ transition experiences. Selective transcription was done because of time limitations in the project. RESULTS The natural and cultural environment was the most pleasant experience for Tianjin students during this transition process. Cross-cultural adjustment and self-adaptability, as well as their autonomous learning ability were the main barriers for international students. CONCLUSIONS The difference between Asian and Western culture caused barriers for international students to fit into a new environment. In terms of integrating into local students, insufficient English language skills, culture shock and personality could be the influence factors. Moreover, the different teaching style and learning style could be the possible reasons for students having difficulty in an independent study. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

Roles and Opportunities for Social Work Intervention in Expatriate Work Environments

2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soochan Choi
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Training Support ◽  
Systems Approaches ◽  
Adjustment Procedure ◽  
Work Intervention

By applying synergistic systems approaches, the present study has examined social work services for foreign-based US employees and their families in order to facilitate a successful adjustment in overseas assignments. A clear understanding of the key elements that constitute the expatriate's adjustment procedure is essential in implementing the practical roles occupational social workers can play in the global workplace today. On the basis of the recognition of the difficulties of cross-cultural adjustment, industrial social workers can utilize their expertise particularly in the processes of selection, training, support in overseas systems and repatriation to maximize an effective and efficient foreign expatriation.

Individual and cultural differences in newsvendor decision making

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Li ◽  
Lucy Gongtao Chen ◽  
Jian Chen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cognitive Reflection Test ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Order Quantities

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate cultural and individual differences in newsvendor decision making.Design/methodology/approachThe online experiment, programmed in the PHP scripting language, had 107 participants: local managers of four large, well-known and supply chain–intensive firms in China (Lenovo, Shenhua, CMST and GM).FindingsThe authors find that, as compared with American subjects, Chinese subjects engage in more demand chasing, order quantities that are closer to the mean demand, have a lower expected profit and exhibit greater variance in order quantities. However, these observations may not hold when the cross-cultural comparison is conducted for each pair of ethnic subgroups whose members have the same cognitive reflection test score, a measure of individual differences. Moreover, cultural differences also affect how individual differences manifest in newsvendor decisions.Practical implicationsThe authors findings have important implications for employee selection, training and management in any cross-cultural business environment.Originality/valueLittle attention has been paid, in the behavioural operations literature, to individual differences and how they interact with culture. This paper is the first to examine the interaction effects of cultural and individual differences in newsvendor decisions, and it highlights an important research area that is currently understudied in operations management.

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