Measurement of individualism-collectivism

https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-6566(88)90022-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Collectivism was defined as a set of feelings, beliefs, behavioral intentions, and behaviors related to solidarity and concern for others. A paper-and-pencil instrument was developed to measure this target-specific, multifaceted construct. Six studies were carried out to examine aspects of validity of this Individualism-Collectivism (INDCOL) Scale. In Study 1, 48 social scientists role-played either an individualist or a collectivist when responding to the Scale. The score profiles followed the predicted pattern. In Study 2, INDCOL subscale scores and the General Collectivism Index (GCI) were demonstrated to be positively related to social interest among both Chinese and American students. In Study 3, collectivism and social desirability were positively related among Chinese, but not American respondents. The difference between the two correlation coefficients was statistically significant. Study 4 demonstrated the individualist-collectivist difference in the psychological link between perceived obligation and behavioral intention. In Studies 5 and 6, the sharing of responsibility was examined. Collectivists were found to hold relatively favorable attitudes toward sharing other's burdens and troubles. The uniqueness of the scale and findings from other studies using the scale were discussed.

References (33)

  • R.D. Luce et al.

    Simultaneous conjoint measurement: A new type of functional measurement

    Journal of Mathematical Psychology

    (1964)
  • H.C. Triandis et al.

    Allocentric vs idiocentric tendencies: Convergent and discriminant validation

    Journal of Research in Personality

    (1985)
  • A. Adler

    Social interest: A challenge to mankind

    (1964)
  • R.W. Brislin

    Back-translation for cross-cultural research

    Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology

    (1970)
  • S. Budner

    Intolerance of ambiguity as a personality variable

    Journal of Personality

    (1962)
  • J.E. Crandall

    A scale for social interest

    Journal of Individual Psychology

    (1975)
  • D.P. Crowne et al.

    The approval motive

    (1964)
  • A.R. Davidson et al.

    Cross-cultural model testing: Toward a solution of the etic-emic dilemma

    International Journal of Psychology

    (1976)
  • M. Fishbein et al.

    Belief, attitude, intentions and behavior: An introduction to theory and research

    (1975)
  • L. Guttman

    A basis for analyzing test-retest reliability

    Psychometrika

    (1945)
  • R.L. Helmreich et al.

    The Work and Family Orientation Questionnaire: An objective instrument to assess components of achievement motivation and attitudes toward family and career

    JSAS Catalogue of Selected Documents in Psychology

    (1978)
  • D. Ho

    Psychological implications of collectivism: With special reference to the Chinese case and Maoist dialectics

  • G. Hofstede

    Culture's consequences: International differences in work-related values

    (1980)
  • G. Hofstede et al.

    Individualism and collectivism at the occupational and organizational levels

  • F.L.K. Hsu

    Americans and Chinese: Passage to difference

    (1981)
  • C.H. Hui

    Individualism-collectivism: Theory, measurement, and its relationship to reward allocation

  • Cited by (552)

    • Examining the demand side factors of green banking adoption – a study exploring the case of Oman

      2024, International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management
    View all citing articles on Scopus

    This article is based, in part, on data collected for a doctoral dissertation submitted to the University of Illinois. The Office of Naval Research (N00014-80-C-0407, Harry C. Triandis, Principal Investigator), Psychology Research Office (University of Illinois), and the Committee on Research and Conference Grants (University of Hong Kong) provided support at different stages of this research.

    View full text