Examining cross-cultural differences in conflict management behavior: A strategy for future research

Abstract

Studies of cross-cultural differences in conflict management behavior are reviewed. This review shows that existing studies are difficult to interpret, because researchers applied Western theories and Western measures to non-Western cultures, without testing the cross-cultural equivalence of the constructs and the measures and without searching for emic constructs that might contribute to an understanding of non-Wes tern behavior. These three problems are discussed, and guidelines to help researchers avoid these problems are proposed. © 1995, MCB UP Limited