Highlighting hidden knowledge in cross-cultural communication

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24520603
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: RYAN Stephen 山形大学, 人文学部, 教授 (40323159)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 異文化間コミュニケション / 文化 / schema

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research set out to explore cultural differences that cause communication problems between native Japanese and English speakers. A questionnaire was made and given to Japanese and English participants in business and educational contexts to explore selected theme words (e.g. democracy) that may show different background knowledge. Results of the questionnaire showed a distinct difference in how participants from Japan and the US interpret these types of important concepts. For example, participants from high context cultures valued a more collective socialist approach towards democracy while low context (i.e. US) cultures tend to value individualistic oriented freedoms. It was surmized that this type of background knowledge will lead to a unique way of problem solving and decision-making in cross-cultural contexts. Further research needs to be done to connect behavior with cultural knowledge however.

Free Research Field

異文化間コミュニケション