Investigating Electronic Word-of-Mouth Motivations in the Middle East

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 40-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Magalhaes ◽  
Basim Musallam
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Motivational Factors ◽  
Opinion Leaders ◽  
Cultural Implications ◽  
Negative Feelings

This paper reports on a study carried out in Kuwait aimed at exploring the motivational factors which drive consumers to mention company names in Twitter. Building on existing models for eWOM motives and using Twitter as the tool for data collection, an electronic questionnaire was launched with the help of a number of opinion leaders. A total of 1,192 valid responses were collected from 5,011 hits. Data were statistically analyzed to extract the strongest factors. Concern for Other Consumers, Extraversion/Positive Self Enhancement, Venting Negative Feelings and Helping the Company are the primary factors. However, the findings are inconclusive when considering the proposition that studies aimed at identifying motivational factors behind eWOM engagement, differences can be expected in results from populations with predominantly collectivist values as opposed to populations with predominantly individualist values. Assuming that in the Kuwaiti cultural context individualist values predominate, it would have been expected to have results which are different from those obtained in studies carried out among populations whose cultural values are predominantly collectivist. However, this was not the case. In some factors the results are very similar, while in others, results are markedly different. This suggests that more research is needed in the cross cultural implications of motivational factors behind eWOM engagement.

scholarly journals Pemahaman Kompetensi Lintas Budaya bagi UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization) untuk Memecah Kebuntuan dalam Penyelesaian Konflik Palestina-Israel [UNTSO Competence in Cross-Cultural Understanding to Break the Deadlock in the Settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict]

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Raden Mas Jerry Indrawan
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Competency ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Training ◽  
Different Cultures

<p>UNTSO was the first peacekeeping mission created by the United Nations. They have been in the Middle East since June 1948 with the task of overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and Arab countries, including seeking resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. One of the reasons many UN peace missions fail, including UNTSO, was because the peacekeepers do not have the ability to understand the local culture in which they are placed. One of the main difficulties faced by peacekeepers in a conflict involving two groups with two different cultures is uncertainty about cultural values. UNTSO personnel very rarely received training as such and like the usual army, their tendency is to use violence to solve conflicts. There should be a special cultural training focused on developing an understanding of the cultural context, such as background orientation, origin, conflict parties, history, religion, customs, and local community language. This paper tries to provide an analysis through an understanding of cross-cultural competency, which is expected to provide recommendations for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.</p>

scholarly journals What is Right? What is Wrong? and Does the Answer Tell Something about Culture? - an Investigation into Culture and Morality Using the Values Concept

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Christin-Melanie Vauclair
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Macro Level ◽  
Multilevel Regression

<p>Morality, or what is considered right or wrong, varies seemingly across cultures. However, the literature shows that moral psychologists have mainly investigated moral reasoning assuming a universal morality. Cross-cultural psychologists in contrast have widely neglected moral issues such as prescriptive beliefs of what people ought to do in a culture, and have predominantly measured culture through personal values. This thesis attempts to bridge this gap by focusing on the values concept. Four empirical studies were conducted to critically examine values as a measure of culture and their relationship to morality. Chapter one is an introduction into the topics morality, culture and values. Chapter two outlines the conceptual and methodological issues associated with deriving cultural values through the statistical aggregation of individuals' personal values. A value taxonomy is presented in which personal moral values and societal moral values are proposed as alternatives for measuring the cultural context. Following this critique, personal values are examined in two empirical studies in a cross-cultural context scrutinizing the validity of Schwartz' (1994) Culture-level Value Theory. Study 1 is a cross-cultural meta-analysis using the Rokeach Value Survey (Rokeach, 1973) showing that Schwartz' culture-level value structure was replicable with different samples, and a different method for assessing value priorities. Nonetheless, a set of values not included in Schwartz' analysis formed a new value type: Self-fulfilled Connectedness (SFC) which is related to the pursuit of non-material goals and endorsed in countries in which basic needs are fulfilled. Study 2 tested in a multilevel regression model whether Schwartz' cultural values predicted individuals' moral attitudes with data from more than 40 different countries. The findings indicated that the value dimension Autonomy-Embeddedness explained individuals' lenient attitude towards personal-sexual, but not towards dishonest-illegal issues. Study 3 dealt with the fundamental critique raised in chapter two that Schwartz (1994) does not operationalize micro- and macro-level constructs independently when measuring cultural values. To address this empirically, personal moral values and societal moral values were explicitly measured in student samples from eight cultures. Societal moral values showed greater cross-cultural differences than personal moral values. Furthermore, societal moral values at the culture-level conceptually replicated the multilevel findings from Study 2. This suggests that societal moral values are a valid macro-level variable for the measurement of culture. Finally, Study 4 was conducted to elicit implicit moral values. Respondents from four cultures free-listed their associations of a 'moral person'. correspondence analyses revealed that collectivistic-oriented samples mentioned more traditional moral attributes, whereas individualistic samples reported more liberal attributes. Furthermore, accessibility of implicit moral values - matched with the SVS - correlated with explicit ratings of personal moral values from Study 3, providing convergent validity for this kind of values. This multi-method finding corroborated that personal moral values and societal moral values are different concepts. In sum, these studies support the validity of Schwartz' theory and suggest that notions of right and wrong do indeed tell us something about culture, but it depends on (1) the issues studied (personal-sexual issues), and (2) the kind of values measured (societal moral values).</p>

Perceived employability development of Western self-initiated expatriates in local organisations in China

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 350-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Makkonen
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Resource ◽  
Career Trajectories ◽  
Perceived Employability ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Negative Feelings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reveal the subjective perspectives on the development process of perceived employability (PE) among Western self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) working for a local organisation in China. Design/methodology/approach – This empirical qualitative study is based on 23 in-depth interviews of Western SIEs, both repatriated and those who seek to continue their careers in local Chinese organisations in China. Findings – This study adds to the current understanding of PE development by highlighting how the long-term PE development of Western SIEs is not only impacted by the perceptions of lost and acquired resources, but also by the host-country cultural context, which contribute to the levels and development of PE as a personal resource. Practical implications – The findings of the study are highly relevant because today’s labour markets and the employability of skilled professionals are increasingly shaped by international career contexts. These are also emerging number of individuals who independently seek career opportunities in cross-cultural career and labour market settings. The findings also help explain why SIEs in cross-cultural career settings often express negative feelings when asked to review their assignments. Originality/value – This study is one of the first to explore the career trajectories of Western SIEs, and to address the dynamic aspect of PE from the perspectives of the conservation of resources theory and non-local employees in cross-cultural career settings.

scholarly journals What is Right? What is Wrong? and Does the Answer Tell Something about Culture? - an Investigation into Culture and Morality Using the Values Concept

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Christin-Melanie Vauclair
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Macro Level ◽  
Multilevel Regression

<p>Morality, or what is considered right or wrong, varies seemingly across cultures. However, the literature shows that moral psychologists have mainly investigated moral reasoning assuming a universal morality. Cross-cultural psychologists in contrast have widely neglected moral issues such as prescriptive beliefs of what people ought to do in a culture, and have predominantly measured culture through personal values. This thesis attempts to bridge this gap by focusing on the values concept. Four empirical studies were conducted to critically examine values as a measure of culture and their relationship to morality. Chapter one is an introduction into the topics morality, culture and values. Chapter two outlines the conceptual and methodological issues associated with deriving cultural values through the statistical aggregation of individuals' personal values. A value taxonomy is presented in which personal moral values and societal moral values are proposed as alternatives for measuring the cultural context. Following this critique, personal values are examined in two empirical studies in a cross-cultural context scrutinizing the validity of Schwartz' (1994) Culture-level Value Theory. Study 1 is a cross-cultural meta-analysis using the Rokeach Value Survey (Rokeach, 1973) showing that Schwartz' culture-level value structure was replicable with different samples, and a different method for assessing value priorities. Nonetheless, a set of values not included in Schwartz' analysis formed a new value type: Self-fulfilled Connectedness (SFC) which is related to the pursuit of non-material goals and endorsed in countries in which basic needs are fulfilled. Study 2 tested in a multilevel regression model whether Schwartz' cultural values predicted individuals' moral attitudes with data from more than 40 different countries. The findings indicated that the value dimension Autonomy-Embeddedness explained individuals' lenient attitude towards personal-sexual, but not towards dishonest-illegal issues. Study 3 dealt with the fundamental critique raised in chapter two that Schwartz (1994) does not operationalize micro- and macro-level constructs independently when measuring cultural values. To address this empirically, personal moral values and societal moral values were explicitly measured in student samples from eight cultures. Societal moral values showed greater cross-cultural differences than personal moral values. Furthermore, societal moral values at the culture-level conceptually replicated the multilevel findings from Study 2. This suggests that societal moral values are a valid macro-level variable for the measurement of culture. Finally, Study 4 was conducted to elicit implicit moral values. Respondents from four cultures free-listed their associations of a 'moral person'. correspondence analyses revealed that collectivistic-oriented samples mentioned more traditional moral attributes, whereas individualistic samples reported more liberal attributes. Furthermore, accessibility of implicit moral values - matched with the SVS - correlated with explicit ratings of personal moral values from Study 3, providing convergent validity for this kind of values. This multi-method finding corroborated that personal moral values and societal moral values are different concepts. In sum, these studies support the validity of Schwartz' theory and suggest that notions of right and wrong do indeed tell us something about culture, but it depends on (1) the issues studied (personal-sexual issues), and (2) the kind of values measured (societal moral values).</p>

scholarly journals Using the Research Journal during Qualitative Data Collection in a Cross-Cultural Context

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Annink
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Research Journal ◽  
Five Phases

AbstractThis article shows how a research journal can be used as a tool to reflect on issues arising during the phase of data collection. Especially in cross-cultural comparative research, unexpected cultural issues are likely to arise. The most critical is the phase of data collection, where decisions have to be made quickly. This article demonstrates how to establish and maintain a research journal during cross-cultural face-to-face interviewing with entrepreneurs. It provides ten suggestions for “what” and “why” to take notes on during five phases of data collection. Furthermore, the article elaborates on how a research journal could be used to deal with emotions as well as methodological and ethical issues that may arise.

Privacy protection and self-disclosure across societies: A study of global Twitter users

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 1476-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Liang ◽  
Fei Shen ◽  
King-wa Fu
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Privacy Protection ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Cultural Variations ◽  
Privacy Settings ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Twitter Users ◽  
Privacy Setting

Privacy is a culturally specific phenomenon. As social media platforms are going global, questions concerning privacy practices in a cross-cultural context become increasingly important. The purpose of this study is to examine cultural variations of privacy settings and self-disclosure of geolocation on Twitter. We randomly selected 3.3 million Twitter accounts from more than 100 societies. Results revealed considerable cultural and societal differences. Privacy setting in collectivistic societies was more effective in encouraging self-disclosure; whereas it appeared to be less important for users in individualistic societies. Internet penetration was also a significant factor in predicting both the adoption of privacy setting and geolocation self-disclosure. However, we did not find any direct relationships between cultural values and self-disclosure.

scholarly journals Price-related consumer discussions in China and the United States: a cross-cultural study investigating price perceptions and word-of-mouth transmission

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Schneider
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Related Word ◽  
Price Fairness ◽  
Culture Dimensions ◽  
Price Perceptions

AbstractPrices are among the most frequently discussed topics in consumer research. Although word-of-mouth is known to be highly influential and it is considered to be of growing importance, previous research has largely neglected price-related word-of-mouth, especially in a cross-cultural context. The present study fills this research gap by analyzing the effects of price-related word-of-mouth valence, price changes communicated by word-of-mouth, market mavenism and national culture on price fairness and expensiveness perceptions, as well as on subsequent word-of-mouth intentions. Two studies employing Hofstede’s national culture dimensions reveal considerable differences between the cultures of the United States and China.

Status or fun? A cross-cultural examination of young consumers’ responses to images of champagne and sparkling wine

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (8) ◽  
pp. 1960-1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Velikova ◽  
Steve Charters ◽  
Joanna Fountain ◽  
Caroline Ritchie ◽  
Nicola Fish ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Sparkling Wine ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test Luna and Gupta’s (2001) investigative framework on the interaction of cultural values and consumer behaviour by conducting a cross-cultural comparison of young wine consumers’ interpretation of images of champagne and sparkling wine. The research examined consumer responses to the images through the prism of the relationship between symbolism, ritual and myth, as well as other related values. Design/methodology/approach – In a series of focus groups with consumers from four anglophone countries (the USA, New Zealand, Australia and the UK), six images of champagne and sparkling wine were used as stimuli to encourage affective and cognitive perspectives on the topic. Findings – Overall, the UK market showed distinct differences from the other markets, due very much to its cultural context. The UK consumers valued traditional advertising; focused mainly on the product itself; and did not associate champagne with fun. Respondents from the New World focused on the general impression of the image and on enjoyment and fun associated with consumption of champagne and sparkling wine. Practical implications – The most crucial implication of this research is the cultural variation in consumer perceptions of champagne and sparkling wine and the impact that it has upon marketing strategies on how to market this product category to younger consumers in different markets. Originality/value – This research contributes to the study of cultural values and consumption behaviour, as well as image effectiveness in forming perceptions of the product category.

scholarly journals Comparing Cross-Cultural Dimensions of the Experiences of International Tourists in Vietnam

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thuy-Huong Truong ◽  
Brian King
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Visitor Satisfaction ◽  
Tourist Satisfaction ◽  
Tourism Professionals ◽  
Tourism Service

Vietnam’s location in South East Asia places it well to benefit from tourism growth trends regionally and globally. It appeals to international tourists because of its long history, its culture and its unique customs and habits. Vietnam is experiencing rapid international tourism growth of visitors from different cultural backgrounds which places pressure on tourism service providers. If development is to be well managed, tourism professionals will need to broaden their understanding of both Western and Asian visitors, and managers need to encourage an atmosphere of familiarity and comfort amongst tourist groups, thus enhancing visitor satisfaction. However, appealing to diverse tourists markets is difficult because the needs of visitors are culturally determined and complex. Despite the importance of tourism for Vietnam, no research has attempted to measure tourist satisfaction in a cross-cultural context. In the present paper, a conceptual framework is proposed to explain the determinants of satisfaction amongst international tourists from different cultures when holidaying in Vietnam. In developing the proposed model, a review is undertaken of the concepts of culture, rules of behaviour, tourist perception and satisfaction. A range of factors are take into account including internal factors (such as cultural values, rules of behaviour, socio-demographics, behavioural and other travel characteristics) and external factors including tourist perceptions of their hosts and of products and services.

scholarly journals Antecedents of green purchase intention: a cross-cultural empirical evidence from Vietnam and Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 935-971
Author(s):  
Duong Cong Doanh ◽  
Katarzyna Gadomska-Lila ◽  
Le Thi Loan
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Environmental Knowledge ◽  
Green Consumption ◽  
Intention To Purchase ◽  
The Cross

Research background: Even though antecedents of green consumption have already been considered in numerous scientific articles, their findings still remain inconsistent. Furthermore, far less attention has been paid to understanding the underlying mechanism of cultural values, including collectivism and long-term orientation, and perceived environmental knowledge influencing intention to purchase environmentally friendly products, as well as the meditating role of green purchase willingness in the linkages between antecedents and green purchase intention. In addition, some previous studies suggested that it might be meaningful and significant to explore these linkages in the cross-cultural context with different levels of economic development. Purpose of the article: This study explored the effects of cultural dimension, perceived environmental and green purchase willingness with regard to intention to purchase environmentally friendly products of Vietnamese and Polish customers. Moreover, the mediating role of green purchase willingness was also investigated in this study. Methods: To achieve the objectives of this research, customer surveys were conducted in two developing countries ? Vietnam and Poland. Two convenience samples of 611 Vietnamese consumers and 301 Polish consumers have been recruited from 03 May to 03 October 2020. The structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilized to examine the conceptual framework and test the proposed hypotheses. Findings & value added: The research revealed that green purchase willingness became the most influential factor to predict green purchase intention in both cultures. Also, perceived environmental knowledge was found to have substantial effects on willingness and intention to purchase environmentally friendly products in both countries, even though the influential degree in Poland was much higher than that in Vietnam. Remarkably, cultural dimensions were found to significantly affect green consumption in the collectivist culture of Vietnam, while these relationships were not significant in Poland. This study was expected to significantly contribute to the existing literature by boosting our understanding of the importance of cultural values and perceived knowledge environment in promoting green consumption in the cross-cultural context.

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