This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wright, G. N. Articles by Wisudha, A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Cultural Differences in Probabilistic Thinking

Brunel University

Lawrence D. Phillips

Brunel University

Peter C. Whalley

Brunel University

Gerry T. Choo

Brunel University

Kee-Ong Ng

Brunel University

Irene Tan

Brunel University

Aylene Wisudha

Brunel University

Cultural differences in three aspects of "probabilistic thinking" were studied. The study re-presents part of earlier work in Hong Kong and Britain and combines it with the results from a further study in Indonesia and Malaysia. The largest cultural difference was found between Asian and British student groups. The British adopted a more finely differentiated view of uncertainty, both verbally and numerically, than the Asians in response to uncertain situations. These differences are predictable neither on the basis of the relative abundance of probability expressions in the Indonesian language nor by the Malay samples' ability to discriminate English probability words on a meaningful probability discrimination dimension. For numerical probabilities assigned to almanac questions, the British were less extreme and better calibrated than the Asian students. Potential cultural influences which could account for the cultural differences were examined, and the possibility that Asian ways of dealing with uncertainty do not involve the verbal or numeric response modes studied is presented.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. C. Carle Cross-Cultural Validity of Alcohol Dependence Across Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Caucasians Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, February 1, 2008; 30(1): 106 - 120. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. J. Arce-Ferrer An Investigation Into the Factors Influencing Extreme-Response Style: Improving Meaning of Translated and Culturally Adapted Rating Scales Educational and Psychological Measurement, June 1, 2006; 66(3): 374 - 392. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. Alvarado and K. A. Jameson Confidence Judgments on Color Category Best Exemplars Cross-Cultural Research, May 1, 2005; 39(2): 134 - 158. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Kurman Self-Regulation Strategies in Achievement Settings: Culture and Gender Differences Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, July 1, 2001; 32(4): 491 - 503. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L.-Y. Lau and R. Ranyard Chinese and English Speakers' Linguistic Expression of Probability and Probabilistic Thinking Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, July 1, 1999; 30(4): 411 - 421. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Shane, S. Venkataraman, and I. MacMillan Cultural Differences in Innovation Championing Strategies Journal of Management, October 1, 1995; 21(5): 931 - 952. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. L. McDaniels and R. S. Gregory A Framework for Structuring Cross-Cultural Research in Risk and Decision Making Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, March 1, 1991; 22(1): 103 - 128. [Abstract]

				C. H. Hui and H. C. Triandis Effects of Culture and Response Format on Extreme Response Style Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, September 1, 1989; 20(3): 296 - 309. [Abstract]