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CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION PSYCH 237, Fall 2011 Syllabus
Dr. Dharam P. Yadav
Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 11:15 am – 12:45 pm Phone: [phone]
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The major objective of this course is to enhance student's knowledge and understanding of theory, research and applications pertaining to the process of cross-cultural communication. More specifically, the course is designed to examine the inter-relationship between communication and cultural patterns. It examines the ways in which cultural assumptions, values, perceptual and cognitive orientations, cultural stereotypes, prejudice, ethnocentrism, non-verbal behaviors, language, and meaning systems operate in the process of cross-cultural interaction between people from diverse cultural and ethnic groups. Through a series of class presentations, case studies and individual research projects, we hope to explore the process of cross-cultural communication and conflict arising from cultural diversity and globalization in a variety of contexts including counseling, human services, education, health care, environmental conservation, organizational behavior, human resource development, and international development.
TEXTBOOKS
1. Samovar, L. and Porter, R. (2012). Intercultural communication: A Reader. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Inc., Required
2. Brislin, R. (2000). Understanding Culture’s Influence on behaviors. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt College Publishing. Required.
3. Hall, Edward. (1990) The hidden dimension. New York, NY: Doubleday, (Recommended reading available in Bailey Howe)
4. Hall, Edward. (1990) The silent language. New York, NY: Doubleday, (Recommended reading available in Bailey Howe)
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
I. COMMUNICATION, CULTURE, & CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Tu 08/30 Th 09/01 Tu 09/06
Th 09/08
a. General Introduction: Culture and Human Behavior; Brislin, Chap. 1, pp. 1-22; Samovar and Porter, pp. 1-17
b. Relevance of Culture to Communication Behavior; Samovar and Porter, pp. 34-55
c. Defining Cross-Cultural Communication, its Scope and Importance. Hall, Hidden Dimension, Chap. 1; Samovar and Potter, pp. 32-38
d. Nature of Cross-Cultural Problems and Cross-Cultural Research. Brislin, Chap. 1, pp. 23-33
II. ROLE OF SUBJECTIVE CULTURE IN CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION: CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN INTERCULTURAL CONTEXTS
Tu 09/13 a. Th 09/15 b. Tu 09/20 c.
Th 09/22 d. Tu 09/27 e.
Subjective Culture and Communication Patterns; Brislin, Chap. 8, pp. 278-298; Samovar and Porter, pp. 56-103 Cultural Assumptions, Values and Concepts; Samovar and Porter, pp. 103-113, 144-160
Cultural Differences Between the U.S. and Other World Societies; Samovar and Porter, pp. 189-197; 161-188; Brislin, Chap. 3, pp. 70-94
Intercultural Contexts and Communication: Organizational Cultures; Samovar and Porter, pp. 19-33; 327-355 Subjective Cultural and Social Behavior; Brislin, Chap. 4, pp. 112-133
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III. CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND MINORITY SUB-CULTURES: THE REALITY OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Th 09/29 a.
Cultural Diversity and Pluralism; Samovar and Porter, pp. 206-221
Th 10/06 c.
Cultural Diversity, Stereotypes, and Cross-Cultural Problems; Samovar and Porter, pp. 222-231, 232-240 Ethnic Groups; Brislin, Chap. 6, pp. 195-208
Cultural and Linguistic Variations between the American "Middle Class Culture," and the Sub-Culture of
Tu 10/04 a.
b. Culture of Poverty and the Sub-Culture of African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and other Minority
Minorities. Samovar and Porter, pp. 490-497, 104-111, 119-125
d. Identifying Prejudice & Communication Barriers in intercultural interactions with Minority Sub-Cultures. Brislin,
Chap. 6, pp. 208-226
CRITICAL ESSAY #1 DUE
IV. CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION, CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND GENDER ROLLS
Tu 10/11 a. b. c. d.
Tu 10/18
Th 10/20
Tu 10/25
Culture, Gender, and Male-Female Interaction. Brislin, Chap. 9
Gender stereotypes
Differences in Male and Female Interaction Patterns
Gender Equality, Autonomy and Communication Behavior. Samovar and Porter, pp. 126-143
EXAMINATION #1
V. LANGUAGE, MEANING & CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Th 10/13
a. Language, Culture and Verbal Communication. Samovar and Porter, pp. 268-287, 400-412 b. Culture and Cognitive Style; Samovar and Porter, pp. 464-479
c. Affective Meaning Systems Across Cultures.
d. Semantic Difficulties in Intercultural Communication. Samovar and Porter, pp. 288-292, 320-326
e. Language, Culture, Cognition and Communication in Education. Brislin, Chap. 5, pp. 180-186
VI. NON-VERBAL BEHAVIOR AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Th 10/27 Tu 11/01
Th 11/03
a. Culture and Emotional Communication. Samovar and Porter, pp. 293-312 b. Facial expressions and body language
a. Spatial Behavior and Environmental Influences. Hall, Hidden Dimension, entire book; Samovar and Porter, pp. 266-274
b. Temporal Behavior. Samovar and Porter, pp. 313-319
c. Interaction Patterns. Samovar and Porter, pp. 457-480
VII.PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Tu 11/08 a.
Culture, Aggression, Stress, Intercultural Conflict and Mental Health. Samovar and Porter, pp. 445-463; Brislin, Chap. 10, pp. 366-398; Brislin, Chap. 5, pp. 186-194
Culture shock, Psychocultural Adaptation. Samovar and Porter, pp. 422-434; Brislin, Chap. 7
Th 11/10 b.
c. Psychocultural Effectiveness and Intercultural Empathy. Samovar and Porter, pp. 435-444
RESEARCH PROJECTS AND ABSTRACTS DUE/CASE STUDY REPORTS DUE
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VIII.COMMUNICATION & LEARNING IN INTERCULTURAL SETTINGS
Tu 11/15 a.
Th 11/17 b. c.
Th 12/01 Tu 12/06 Th 12/08
Becoming Intercultural. Brislin, Chap. 11
Components of Effective Communication and Intercultural Learning; Samovar and Porter, pp. 476-489 Cross-Cultural Learning and Its Effects. Samovar and Porter, pp. 498-502; Brislin, Chap. 2
EXAMINATION #2 REVIEW – CRITICAL ESSAY #2 DUE IX. CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION RESEARCH
Tu 11/29
EXAMINATION #2
PRESENTATION OF CASE STUDIES /// RESEARCH PROJECTS AND ABSTRACTS CASE STUDIES/RESEARCH PROJECTS PRESENTATION
CLASSES END
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Individual Research Project:
Please hand in an outline of a few pages in length, due Tuesday, September 13, 2011, detailing the research topic, the objectives, the major sources of information, and approach to be followed. It is a "ground-staking" exercise and an invitation for suggestions. I shall be glad to discuss your research proposal with you. Following this review of your outline, you should complete a research project of modest length. The research project may contain visuals, videotape, etc., and may be based on case study, experimental, content analytic, field survey methodology or else your research paper should be based on a comprehensive and critical synthesis of appropriate research studies pertaining to a clearly defined topical theme. The research project should be typed and should reflect proper citations of the origin of its contents that are obtained from other works. The single most important criterion in evaluating each research project submitted will include the demonstration of a clear understanding of the interrelationship between communicative and psycho-cultural patterns that might be present in a selected cross-cultural context that you have chosen for your research. If you choose this option, your research project paper would incorporate the ten (10) research abstracts in the form of a critical synthesis as indicated below. The research project is due on Thursday, November 10, 2011.
2. Research Abstracts:
Each student will review and prepare ten (10) research abstracts from professional journal articles and scholarly publications. The abstracts should focus on specific topic in the field of cross-cultural communication and should include complete bibliographic information along with a summary of research objectives, methodology, findings, and conclusions. The purpose of these abstracts is to enable you to gain a better understanding of a specific topic in the field of cross-cultural communication and to integrate important empirical research studies in your individual research project. The abstracts should be typed and are due on Thursday, November 10, 2011. This assignment is part of the individual research project mentioned above.
3. Cross-Cultural Case Study:
The purpose of this assignment is to enable you to analyze the role of cultural differences and similarities as well as the mutual interplay between cultural patterns and communication behavior in the context of an actual or a simulated cross-cultural encounter involving people from different cultural backgrounds. You may show the uniqueness of subjective cultures, language, systems of meaning, communication styles, thought patterns and cultural adaptation. Your independent case study assignment should analyze a clearly defined aspect of the following topics within a specific cross-cultural context. Please turn in a report of about ten (10) typewritten pages documenting your analysis as well as a review of eight (8) appropriate empirical research studies from scholarly journals. You will be invited to make a brief, informal presentation of your case study in the class. Due dates and general topics for case study assignments are as follows:
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Assignment
Case Study
Case Study
Group
Group #1
Group #2
Due Date
Th, Nov 10
Th, Nov 10
Topics
* Role of Subjective Culture in Cross-Cultural Communication
OR
* Cross-cultural Communication and Minority Sub-cultures
OR
* Cross-Cultural Communication and Issues of Cultural Diversity in Specific Contexts (gender, work place, education, organization cultures, etc.)
* Analysis of Emotion and Non-Verbal Behavior in Cross-Cultural Communication
OR
* Intercultural Adaptation; Culture shock; Cross-Cultural Conflicts, Acculturative stress
3. Critical/Reflective Essays:
This writing assignment is designed to enable you to present a critical analysis and evaluation of theory and research focusing on a specific aspect of the role of culture in human cognition, emotion and behavior. Possible topics may include: Acculturative Stress and Intercultural Adaptation. Each essay will be 4 -5 single spaced pages long. Essay #1 is due on October 6, 2011 and Essay #2 is due on November 29, 2011.
5. Examinations:
There will be two (2), hourly examinations and a final based on assigned readings that are listed in your course outline.
Examinations will incorporate multiple choice, short answer questions and essay questions.
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COURSE EVALUATION
Your final grade in this course will be determined on the basis of your performance in your individual research project, research abstracts, case study assignments, class participation, and examinations. Each of these components will be evaluated as follows:
Option 1
Two Exams and Final =
Case Study =
8 Research Abstracts = and Research Paper
Option 2
Two Exams and Final = Case Study = Option 3
Two Exams and Final = Research Paper/Abstract =
Option 4
Two Critical Essays = Two Exams and Final =
DEADLINES TO REMEMBER
Case Study Group #1
Case Study Group #2 Examination #1 Examination #2
Research Project / Abstracts Critical Essay #1
Critical Essay #2
50% of grade 25% of grade 25% of Grade
75% of grade 25% of grade
75% of grade 25% of grade
25% of grade 75% of grade
Thursday, November 10th Thursday, November 10th Thursday, October 13th Thursday, December 1st Thursday, November 10th Thursday, October 6th Thursday, November 29th
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