Examining the Impact of Culture‘s Consequences: A Three-Decade, Multi-Level, Meta-Analytic Review of Hofstede‘s Cultural Value Dimensions

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Vasyl Taras, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Using data from 598 studies representing over 200,000 individuals, we meta-analyzed the relationship between G. Hofstede‘s (1980a) original 4 cultural value dimensions and a variety of organizationally relevant outcomes. First, values predict outcomes with similar strength (with an overall absolute weighted effect size of ? = 0.18) at the individual level of analysis. Second, the predictive power of the cultural values was significantly lower than that of personality traits and demographics for certain outcomes (e.g., job performance, absenteeism, turnover) but was significantly higher for others (e.g., organizational commitment, identification, citizenship behavior, team-related attitudes, feedback seeking). Third, cultural values were most strongly related to emotions, followed by attitudes, then behaviors, and finally job performance. Fourth, cultural values were more strongly related to outcomes for managers (rather than students) and for older, male, and more educated respondents. Fifth, findings were stronger for primary, rather than secondary, data. Finally, we provide support for M. Gelfand, L. H. Nishii, and J. L. Raver‘s (2006) conceptualization of societal tightness–looseness, finding significantly stronger effects in culturally tighter, rather than looser, countries.

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(3), 405-439
Language: English
Date: 2010
Keywords
Hofstede, national culture, cultural values, meta-analysis

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