Cultural conditions and individual behaviours: Conceptual and methodological links

Abstract

This paper is concerned with two pervasive issues in cross-cultural studies: how to account for the results obtained from comparisons of cultural groups with one another, and how to bring together “macro” accounts of society with “micro” accounts of individual performances. The material provides a general description of these issues, and an account of the way they have structured a program of research at Macquarie University. The account of Macquarie research covers empirical work together with the development of theoretical arguments. These arguments are related especially to the need for descriptive terms that can be used both for culture and for individual performance and that are compatible with one another or allow a translation from one to the other.