Methods and Assessment in Culture and Psychology

Description

Significant advancements in methodologies and statistical techniques in cross-cultural psychological research abound, but general practice, education, and most researchers in psychology rarely use them. This leads to misinterpretations, misrepresentations, and prejudice. The authors expertly demonstrate the importance of methodological rigor to safeguard appropriate inferences about similarities and differences, particularly when methods have not been developed in the cultural contexts where they are used. The book features acculturation and identity, including contributions on remote acculturation, religiosity, and organizational contexts. It also covers individual differences and evaluates methodological progress in educational assessment, emotions, motivation, and personality. Methodological and psychometric perspectives on equivalence and bias, as well as measurement invariance in cross-cultural research, are a central theme. From study design to data interpretation, it is essential for psychology, and the social sciences in general, to adopt methods and assessment procedures that are more rigorous for culture-comparative studies.

Michael Bender is an assistant professor at Tilburg University, the Netherlands, and an honorary associate professor at Gratia Christian College, Hong Kong. He is the incoming editor of Online Readings in Psychology and Culture (ORPC), the open-access journal of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP), and a board member on the committee for Cultural Diversity in the Netherlands Institute of Psychologists (NIP). He works on acculturation, identity, memory, and motivation. Byron Adams is an assistant professor at Tilburg University, the Netherlands, visiting professor at Ghent University, Belgium, and senior research associate at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He served on the governing council for the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood (SSEA) and the Committee for Cultural Diversity in the Netherlands Institute of Psychologists (NIP). His research focuses on identity, inclusion, and well-being across cultures and lifespans.

'A 'Festschrift' is traditionally published to honor a prominent academic upon a significant birthday. This book does exactly that. This incredible collection of chapters honors our late colleague, Fons van de Vijver, who was a true champion of quantitative comparative psychology. It is unbelievably sad that Fons cannot read it himself.' Klaus Boehnke, President of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology and Professor of Social Science Methodology, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany 'Unless the methods used in cross-cultural and cultural psychology are convincingly valid at every step, the results will almost certainly be flawed. This edited volume inspired by the contributions of Fons van de Vijver is a most welcome addition to the ever-growing methodological literature that focuses on the complexity of relationships between culture and behavior.' Walter J. Lonner, Professor Emeritus, Western Washington University, USA, and Founding Editor, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 'Recently, psychological research and theory have acknowledged the cultural, contextual, and historical diversity that shapes and organizes behavior. Investigating cultural similarities and differences requires evaluation of potential biases and levels of psychometric equivalence of the methodology used. This book provides an invaluable examination of methodology across psychological domains within diverse cultural contexts.' Deborah L. Best, William L. Poteat Professor of Psychology, Wake Forest University, USA, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 'With chapters by many of the world's greatest experts in the field, this book will be an invaluable resource for those who are starting out in cross-cultural research, as well as for more experienced cross-cultural researchers seeking to deepen, extend, or update their knowledge.' Vivian L. Vignoles, Reader in Social Psychology, University of Sussex, UK, and Founder of the Culture and Identity Research Network 'This landmark volume is now 'the' source for methods and assessment in culture and psychology. It combines both breadth and depth, featuring chapters on a broad range of topics authored by the best minds in the field. This book is a 'must-have' for seminars and classes in psychology and anthropology.' Ying-yi Hong, Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China, and Editor of the Handbooks of Advances in Culture and Psychology book series 'This book provides cumulative knowledge and new insights into the scientific field of culture and psychology, with an emphasis on methodological challenges of cross-cultural investigation. It is highly recommended for students, researchers, and practitioners who seek authoritative guidance on cross-cultural research methods and innovative solutions for intercultural issues.' Emiko S. Kashima, Professor in Social and Cultural Psychology, La Trobe University, Australia 'Psychologists are becoming aware of the limitations of how well the results of specific studies can be generalized cross-culturally. This volume contains valuable perspectives on such issues. The coverage is broad and the prose is refreshingly clear. It should serve as a valuable resource for anyone interested in cross-cultural psychology.' John B. Nezlek, Professor of Psychology, College of William and Mary, USA, and University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland 'This book takes readers on a journey of the best current methodological practices within cross-cultural psychology. Any psychologist, and anyone interested in human nature and culture, should read this book to learn about those standards in order to make better judgments about culturally biased writings that are still common.' Wolfgang Friedlmeier, Professor of Psychology, Grand Valley State University, USA 'This is a much-needed, science- and practice-based guide through the complexities, challenges, and positive gains of doing methodologically sound cross-cultural research. The editors do a terrific job in collecting and integrating views from top-notch experts. This book is a must-read for any established or aspiring researcher in psychology and related disciplines.' Veronica Benet-Martinez, Research Professor of Political and Social Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain 'This is a must-read for anyone interested in the best practices for studying culture. Written by the world's leading experts, with much theoretical insight and actionable advice, this masterpiece promises to improve the validity of cross-cultural research for years to come.' Michele Gelfand, cultural psychologist and Distinguished Professor, University of Maryland, USA 'This remarkable book, celebrating the legacy of Fons van de Vijver, takes the reader on a voyage from acculturation and identity, through the interaction between individual and context, to statistical, psychometric, and methodological considerations of culture and psychology. It is a must-read for researchers in the field.' Nicolas Geeraert, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Essex, UK