COMM 490 Communication, Culture & Society

Assignment 5

CULTURAL DIFFERENCE INTERVIEW

Purpose

To understand and apply Hofstede’s four cultural difference dimensions to your own experiences.

To observe how cultural theories relate to your own life.

Directions

With an assigned partner, conduct two interviews on the CourseInfo site for the class. Log on, find your assigned dyad, and interact with your partner.

You will do two interviews, one in the role of interviewer and the other in the role of respondent. The interviewer’s task is to ask several questions and follow up with additional questions until a complete, descriptive answer is given. The respondent’s task is to provide detailed, descriptive answers that include examples from personal experience for each of the questions and followup questions.

Interview Questions

How is power distance, including social hierarchy and status, displayed in your culture? Include personal examples in your answer.

How does your culture deal with uncertainty and ambiguity? Does your culture avoid ambiguous communication? What is the response to risk-taking? Give examples.

How does your culture display its degree of dependence on the self (individualism) in comparison to dependence on the group (collectivism)? Give personal instances to illustrate.

How does your culture balance the need for achievement (masculinity) against the need for nurturance (femininity)? Tell stories that demonstrate your answer.

You are not required to turn in the interview transcript, because it will be recorded on line. There is no paper due.

Outcome

In the next class meeting, come prepared to report on the most interesting or unusual things you learned about your partner’s culture.