Cross-Cultural Survey Methods
Wiley Series in Survey Methodology
1. Edition November 2002
432 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
PRACTICAL METHODOLOGIES FOR CROSS-CULTURAL RESEARCH
Since all research is in a sense comparative, it is sometimes
argued that methods and requirements remain the same, no matter
what country or nationality is involved. The editors of this volume
contend that this philosophy is an oversimplification. Although
comparative survey research builds on and benefits from best
practices established in monocultural research, cross-cultural
research requires methodologies which address the central issues of
equivalence of measurement and comparability of findings. The
literature dealing with these issues has tended to be piecemeal,
scattered across disciplines, and focused on specific
questionnaires and the needs of single disciplines. This book
provides the first systematic, interdisciplinary and hands-on
treatment of the issues of greatest saliency for comparative survey
research within and across countries.
Breaking new ground in its approach, Cross-Cultural Survey Methods
describes how to recognize and deal with the major obstacles at
each stage of researching, striving for equivalence and
comparability. Topics include:
* Designing and crafting questionnaires for comparative subjects,
including questionnaire translation
* Error and bias issues in cross-national surveys
* Techniques for analyzing bias and equivalence
* Statistical techniques for substantive analysis and the use of
multidimensional scaling to analyze bias and research
questions
* Important issues of preparing data for secondary analysis, such
as data access, and documentation
* An introduction to meta-analysis in comparative survey
research
Consistently readable and grounded in the expertise of noted
international authorities, this volume fills an increasing need for
practical methodologies for cross-cultural research.
Preface.
PART I: INTRODUCTION.
Comparative Research (J. Harkness, et al.).
PART II: DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION.
Questionnaire Design in Comparative Research (J. Harkness, et
al.).
Questionnaire Translation (J. Harkness).
Communication and Social Cognition (M. Braun).
Developing Comparable Questions in Cross-National Surveys (T.
Smith).
Culture-Sensitive Context Effects: A Challenge for Cross-Cultural
Surveys (N. Schwarz).
Background Variables (M. Braun & P. Mohler).
Sampling and Estimation (S. Hader & S. Gabler).
PART III: ERROR AND COMPARATIVE SURVEYS.
Errors in Comparative Survey Research: An Overview (M.
Braun).
Bias and Equivalence: Cross-Cultural Perspectives (F. Van de
Vijver).
Nonresponse in Cross-Cultural and Cross-National Surveys (M. Couper
& E. de Leeuw).
Data Collection Methods (K. Skj?k & J. Harkness).
Social Desirability in Cross-Cultural Research (T. Johnson & F.
Van de Vijver).
PART IV: ANALYSIS OF COMPARATIVE DATA.
Bias and Substantive Analyses (F. Van de Vijver).
Multidimensional Scaling (J. Fontaine).
Cross-Cultural Equivalence with Structural Equation Modeling (J.
Billiet).
Multitrait -
Multimethod Studies (W. Saris).
Response Function Equality (W. Saris).
PART V: DOCUMENTATION AND SECONDARY ANALYSIS.
Using Published Survey Data (J. van Deth).
Documenting Comparative Surveys for Secondary Analysis (P. Mohler
& R. Uher).
The Use of Meta-Analysis in Cross-National Studies (E. de Leeuw
& J. Hox).
Glossary (T. Johnson).
References.
Author Index.
Subject Index.
cross-national survey research. The diverse efforts of the
participants in the conference as represented in this
book...could serve as a stimulus for such research."
(Journal of the American Statistical Association, September
2004)
"If you like reading books about statistical science and its
application to modern society, here is a book that you might
consider." (Technometrics, Vol. 45, No. 2, May 2003)
"...a useful addition to a comparative researcher's
library...recommended..." (Choice, Vol. 40, No. 9, May
2003)
International Social Survey Program (ISSP), convenor and member of
the ISSP methodology groups, and is internal coordinator of
COMPASS, a five-country consortium of research institutes for
European comparative social science survey research.
FONS J. R. Van de VIJVER, PhD, teaches cross-cultural psychology at
Tilburg University, The Netherlands. He is Editor of the Journal of
Cross-Cultural Psychology.
PETER Ph. MOHLER, PhD, is Director of ZUMA, member of the Board of
Directors of GESIS, and a professor at Manheim University.