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Journal ArticleDOI

A Critique of Hall's Contexting Model: A Meta-Analysis of Literature on Intercultural Business and Technical Communication

01 Oct 2008-Journal of Business and Technical Communication (SAGE Publications)-Vol. 22, Iss: 4, pp 399-428
TL;DR: In this article, a meta-analysis of 224 intercultural communication documents is presented, based on the model of low-context and high-context cultures, which is one of the dominant theoretical frameworks for interpreting interculture communication.
Abstract: Edward Hall's model of low-context and high-context cultures is one of the dominant theoretical frameworks for interpreting intercultural communication. This article reports a meta-analysis of 224 ...
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an antenarrative of the field of technical and professional communication to encourage the field to embrace social justice and inclusivity as part of its core narrative.
Abstract: This article presents an antenarrative of the field of technical and professional communication. Part methodology and part practice, an antenarrative allows the work of the field to be reseen, forges new paths forward, and emboldens the field’s objectives to unabashedly embrace social justice and inclusivity as part of its core narrative. The authors present a heuristic that can usefully extend the pursuit of inclusivity in technical and professional communication.

158 citations


Additional excerpts

  • ...The most common theories informing this work in the 1990s 250and early 2000s were the comparative frameworks of Hall and Hofstede (Cardon, 2008)....

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  • ...250 and early 2000s were the comparative frameworks of Hall and Hofstede (Cardon, 2008)....

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Book
12 Apr 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, culture, communication and interaction have been discussed in professional and workplace contexts, and the analysis of conversation has been carried out to identify power, racism and stereotyping in the context of intercultural communication.
Abstract: Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction - culture, communication and interaction 2. Direct and indirect messages 3. Politeness and face 4. Speech acts and politeness across cultures 5. The analysis of conversation 6. Power, racism and stereotyping 7. Naming and addressing 8. Cultural differences in writing 9. Translating and interpreting 10. Intercultural communication issues in professional and workplace contexts 11. Towards successful intercultural communication References.

97 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a systematic review of the literature related to Hall's high-context/low-context communication and its use in cross-cultural research is presented, concluding that most previous research that utilized HC/LC country classifications is based on seemingly less-than-adequat...
Abstract: This paper reviews Edward T. Hall’s influential concept of high-/low-context communication and its use in cross-cultural research. Hall’s concept suggests that individuals combine preprogrammed culture specific context and information to create meaning. The use of context is argued to vary across cultures and country classifications have been attached to Hall’s concept. These country rankings have evolved over time classifying (national) cultures as ‘high-context’ (HC) and ‘low-context’ (LC). Since future studies employing Hall’s context idea as an underlying framework in cross-cultural research need to rely on a valid and reliable country classification, our study analyses literature related to Hall’s HC/LC concept. Based on a systematic review, we particularly question whether the country classification attached to Hall’s concept is built on rigorous and substantiated findings. Our study shows that most previous research that utilized HC/LC country classifications is based on seemingly less-than-adequat...

90 citations


Cites result from "A Critique of Hall's Contexting Mod..."

  • ...The results of an attempted meta-analysis related to the context-idea (Cardon, 2008) implicitly support this assumption....

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01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this article, a systematic review of the literature related to Hall's high-context and low-context communication and its use in cross-cultural research is presented. But the authors show that most previous research that utilized HC/LC country classifications is based on seemingly less-than-adequate evidence.
Abstract: This paper reviews Edward T. Hall's influential concept of high-/low-context communication and its use in cross-cultural research. Hall's concept suggests that individuals combine prepro- grammed culture specific context and information to create meaning. The use of context is argued to vary across cultures and country classifications have been attached to Hall' sc oncept. These country rankings have evolved over time classifying (national) cultures as 'high-context' (HC) and 'low-context' (LC). Since future studies employing Hall's context idea as an underlying framework in cross-cultural research need to rely on a valid and reliable country classification, our study anal- yses literature related to Hall's HC/LC concept. Based on a systematic review, we particularly question whether the country classification attached to Hall's concept is built on rigorous and substantiated findings. Our study shows that most previous research that utilized HC/LC country classifications is based on seemingly less-than-adequate evidence. Mixed and often contradictory findings reveal inconsistencies in the conventional country classifications and show that they are flawed or, at best, very limited.

89 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Jacob Cohen1
TL;DR: A convenient, although not comprehensive, presentation of required sample sizes is providedHere the sample sizes necessary for .80 power to detect effects at these levels are tabled for eight standard statistical tests.
Abstract: One possible reason for the continued neglect of statistical power analysis in research in the behavioral sciences is the inaccessibility of or difficulty with the standard material. A convenient, although not comprehensive, presentation of required sample sizes is provided here. Effect-size indexes and conventional values for these are given for operationally defined small, medium, and large effects. The sample sizes necessary for .80 power to detect effects at these levels are tabled for eight standard statistical tests: (a) the difference between independent means, (b) the significance of a product-moment correlation, (c) the difference between independent rs, (d) the sign test, (e) the difference between independent proportions, (f) chi-square tests for goodness of fit and contingency tables, (g) one-way analysis of variance, and (h) the significance of a multiple or multiple partial correlation.

38,291 citations


"A Critique of Hall's Contexting Mod..." refers background or result in this paper

  • ...8 and greater considered large (Cohen, 1992), the three hypotheses that were supported had small effect sizes (ranging from .20 to .26). The significant hypothesis that was not supported, however, was the only one that approached having a medium effect size (.39). Gudykunst et al. (1996) concluded that on a cultural level, the results supporting contexting were weak. But self-construals were significant predictors of all of these hypotheses. In other words, contexting was better explained on an individual rather than a cultural level. They concluded that their instrument was a reliable measure of contexting; however, individual-level variables such as independent and interdependent self-construals are better predictors of contexting than are cultural-level variables such as individualism and collectivism. One of the major limitations of Gudykunst et al.’s (1996) work is that it examined only four cultures....

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  • ...8 and greater considered large (Cohen, 1992), the three hypotheses that were supported had small effect sizes (ranging from .20 to .26). The significant hypothesis that was not supported, however, was the only one that approached having a medium effect size (.39). Gudykunst et al. (1996) concluded that on a cultural level, the results supporting contexting were weak....

    [...]

  • ...8 and greater considered large (Cohen, 1992), the three hypotheses that were supported had small effect sizes (ranging from .20 to .26). The significant hypothesis that was not supported, however, was the only one that approached having a medium effect size (.39). Gudykunst et al. (1996) concluded that on a cultural level, the results supporting contexting were weak. But self-construals were significant predictors of all of these hypotheses. In other words, contexting was better explained on an individual rather than a cultural level. They concluded that their instrument was a reliable measure of contexting; however, individual-level variables such as independent and interdependent self-construals are better predictors of contexting than are cultural-level variables such as individualism and collectivism. One of the major limitations of Gudykunst et al.’s (1996) work is that it examined only four cultures. Hofstede (2001) explained that in order to identify etic (applicable to all cultures) dimensions of cultural variability, data from a minimum of 10 to 15 societies are necessary. Otherwise, researchers run the risk of treating cultures as individuals, not as wholes. Hofstede argued that cultures “are wholes, and their internal logic cannot be understood in terms used for the personality dynamics of individuals” (p. 17). Kim, Pan, and Park (1998) were the next known researchers after Gudykunst et al. (1996) to attempt developing an instrument that measures contexting. Based on Hall’s (1976) work, they identified five theoretical categories of contexting: social orientation, responsibility, confrontation, communication, and dealing with new situations....

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  • ...8 and greater considered large (Cohen, 1992), the three hypotheses that were supported had small effect sizes (ranging from .20 to .26). The significant hypothesis that was not supported, however, was the only one that approached having a medium effect size (.39). Gudykunst et al. (1996) concluded that on a cultural level, the results supporting contexting were weak. But self-construals were significant predictors of all of these hypotheses. In other words, contexting was better explained on an individual rather than a cultural level. They concluded that their instrument was a reliable measure of contexting; however, individual-level variables such as independent and interdependent self-construals are better predictors of contexting than are cultural-level variables such as individualism and collectivism. One of the major limitations of Gudykunst et al.’s (1996) work is that it examined only four cultures. Hofstede (2001) explained that in order to identify etic (applicable to all cultures) dimensions of cultural variability, data from a minimum of 10 to 15 societies are necessary. Otherwise, researchers run the risk of treating cultures as individuals, not as wholes. Hofstede argued that cultures “are wholes, and their internal logic cannot be understood in terms used for the personality dynamics of individuals” (p. 17). Kim, Pan, and Park (1998) were the next known researchers after Gudykunst et al....

    [...]

  • ...8 and greater considered large (Cohen, 1992), the three hypotheses that were supported had small effect sizes (ranging from .20 to .26). The significant hypothesis that was not supported, however, was the only one that approached having a medium effect size (.39). Gudykunst et al. (1996) concluded that on a cultural level, the results supporting contexting were weak. But self-construals were significant predictors of all of these hypotheses. In other words, contexting was better explained on an individual rather than a cultural level. They concluded that their instrument was a reliable measure of contexting; however, individual-level variables such as independent and interdependent self-construals are better predictors of contexting than are cultural-level variables such as individualism and collectivism. One of the major limitations of Gudykunst et al.’s (1996) work is that it examined only four cultures. Hofstede (2001) explained that in order to identify etic (applicable to all cultures) dimensions of cultural variability, data from a minimum of 10 to 15 societies are necessary....

    [...]

Book
01 Nov 1980
TL;DR: In his book Culture's Consequences, Geert Hofstede proposed four dimensions on which the differences among national cultures can be understood: Individualism, Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance and Masculinity as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In his bestselling book Culture's Consequences, Geert Hofstede proposed four dimensions on which the differences among national cultures can be understood: Individualism, Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance and Masculinity. This volume comprises the first in-depth discussion of the masculinity dimension and how it can help us to understand differences among cultures. The book begins with a general explanation of the masculinity dimension, and discusses how it illuminates broad features of different cultures. The following parts apply the dimension more specifically to gender (and gender identity), sexuality (and sexual behaviour) and religion, probably the most influential variable of all. Hofstede closes the book with a synthesizing statement about cultural values as they are linked to sexuality, gender and religion.

19,826 citations

Book
01 Jan 1991
TL;DR: In this article, the differences in the way strategists and their followers think are discussed, and practical solutions for those in business to help solve conflict between different groups are proposed, with a focus on how to find common problems which demand cooperation for the solution of these problems.
Abstract: Despite calls for better co-operation between countries and different cultures, there is still confrontation between people, groups and nations. But at the same time they are exposed to common problems which demand cooperation for the solution of these problems. This book helps to understand the differences in the way strategists and their followers think, offering practical solutions for those in business to help solve conflict between different groups.

16,894 citations


"A Critique of Hall's Contexting Mod..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Culture’s Consequences (Hofstede 1980, 2001) 45 Beyond Culture (Hall, 1976) 34 Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind (Hofstede, 1991) 30...

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  • ...When totaling all of Hall’s work (Hall, 1959, 1976, 1983; Hall & Hall, 1987, 1990), he is cited 75 times, equal to that of Hofstede (1980, 1991, 2001)....

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Book
20 Apr 2001
TL;DR: In this paper, values and culture data collection, treatment and validation power distance Uncertainty Avoidance Individualism and Collectivism Masculinity and Femininity Long versus Short-Term Orientation Cultures in Organizations Intercultural Encounters Using Culture Dimension Scores in Theory and Research
Abstract: Values and Culture Data Collection, Treatment and Validation Power Distance Uncertainty Avoidance Individualism and Collectivism Masculinity and Femininity Long versus Short-Term Orientation Cultures in Organizations Intercultural Encounters Using Culture Dimension Scores in Theory and Research

15,228 citations

Book
01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: In this paper, conceptual issues and themes on qualitative research and evaluaton methods including: qualitative data, triangulated inquiry, qualitative inquiry, constructivism, constructionism, complexity (chaos) theory, qualitative designs and data collection, fieldwork strategies, interviewing, tape-recording, ethical issues, analysis, interpretation and reporting, observations vs. perceived impacts and utilisation-focused evaluation reporting.
Abstract: This book explains clearly conceptual issues and themes on qualitative research and evaluaton methods including: qualitative data, triangulated inquiry, qualitative inquiry, constructivism, constructionism, Complexity (chaos) theory, qualitative designs and data collection, fieldwork strategies, interviewing, tape-recording, ethical issues, analysis, interpretation and reporting, observations vs. perceived impacts and utilisation-focused evaluation reporting.

13,768 citations


"A Critique of Hall's Contexting Mod..." refers background in this paper

  • ...…best fit), negative case analysis, triangulation, review by inquiry participants, expert audit review, theory triangulation, sampling techniques, bias acknowledgment and credibility of researcher (researcher as instrument), coding schemes, analysis framework, or audit trail (Patton, 2002)....

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