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

Abstract

A non-culture-bound survey instrument and analytic procedure developed for making cross-cultural comparisons was tested on samples of students from the United States, West Germany, Japan, Singapore, Argentina, Nigeria, and India. This method was found to tap reliably two apparently universal motivational dimensions (power and 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. Moreover, this approach may enable researchers to view one culture from the point of another culture.