Cultural values of Chinese tertiary students and the implications for first-year engagement
Abstract
This study identifies the cultural values of Chinese tertiary education students and applies these findings in a discussion of the implications for first-year student engagement for this subgroup. Survey results revealed strong collectiveness and conservation needs and a marked rejection of self-enhancement. The results were compared with previous data over a 19 year period and it was found that the values held by Chinese tertiary students had not changed despite rapid socio-economical change within China during the same time frame. As such, values provide a strong platform from which to develop first-year engagement strategies for this group.
Broadly speaking, engagement activities directed towards Chinese students that facilitate in-group relations and that recognise and reward the combined efforts of group members are likely to be more effective than those that focus upon the individual. Engagement activities that provide consistency, clear expectations and role clarity are more likely to encourage participation rather than those that emphasise change or surprise. Engagement activities that promote self-enhancement potentials are likely to be met with resistance, whereas those that promote transformation beyond self interests are likely to invoke motivation.
Downloads
References
Aaker, JL & Williams, P 1998, ‘Empathy versus Pride: The Influences of Emotional Appeals across Cultures’, Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 241-261. Allen, MW 2001, ‘A practical method for uncovering the direct and indirect relationships between human values and consumer purchases’, Journal of Consumer Marketing, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 102-120. ACER 2008, Beyond happiness: Managing engagement to enhance satisfaction and grades, AUSSE Research Briefing, vol. 1, Australian Council for Educational Research. ACER 2008, International engagements: The characteristics of international students’ engagement with university, AUSSE Research Briefing, vol. 2, Australian Council for Educational Research. ACER 2010, Doing more for learning: enhancing engagement and outcomes. Australasian survey of student engagement: Australasian student engagement report. Camberwell, Vic.: Australian Council for Educational Research. Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, People’s Republic of China Country Brief, viewed 1st July 2009, <http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/china/cb_index.html>. Bardi, A & Schwartz, SH 2003, ‘Values and Behavior: Strength and Structure of Relations’, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 29, no. 10, pp. 1207-1220. Bloombaum, M 1968, ‘Tribes and Traits: A Smallest Space Analysis of Cross-Cultural Data’, American Anthropologist, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 328-330. Chinese Culture Connection 1987, ‘Chinese values and the search for culture-free dimensions of culture’, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 143–164. Fernandez, DR, Carlson, DS, Stepina, LP & Nicholson, JD 1997, ‘Hofstede’s country classification 25 years later’, The Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 137, no. 1, pp. 43-54. Fontaine, R & Richardson, S 2005, ‘Cultural Values in Malaysia: Chinese, Malays and Indians Compared’, Cross Cultural Management, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 63-77. Hall, E.T 1976, Beyond Culture, Anchor Press/Doubleday, New York. Hofstede, G 1980, Culture’s Consequence: International Differences in Work-Related Values, Sage, Beverly Hills, CA. Hofstede, G & Bond, MH 1988, ‘The Confucius Connection: From Cultural Roots to Economic Growth’, Organizational Dynamics, Spring 1988, p. 5-12.
Holz, CA 2008, ‘China’s Economic Growth 1978-2025: What We Know Today About China’s Economic Growth Tomorrow’, World Development, vol. 36, no. 10, pp. 1665-1691.
Keegan, WJ 2002, Global Marketing Management, 7th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Kirby, JR, Woodhouse, A & Ma, Y 1996, ‘Studying in A Second Language: the Experiences of Chinese Students in Canada’, in D Watkins & J Biggs (eds), The Chinese Learner: Cultural, Psychological, and Contextual Influences, CERC and ACER, Hong Kong and Australia.
Krause, K, Understanding and promoting student engagement in university learning communities, Centre for the Study of Higher Education, The University of Melbourne, viewed 2nd August 2010, <http://www.cshe.unimelb.edu.au/pdfs/Stud_eng.pdf>.
Landes, DS 1999, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, WW Norton & Company. Laverie, D, Kleine, RE & Kleine, SS 1993, ‘Linking emotions and values in consumption experiences: An exploratory study’, Advances in Consumer Research, vol. 20, pp. 70-75.
Lowe, AC & Corkindale, DR 1998, ‘Differences in “cultural values” and their effects on responses to marketing stimuli: A cross-cultural study between Australians and Chinese from the People’s Republic of China, European Journal of Marketing, vol. 32, no. 9/10, pp. 843-867.
Mo, PH 2007, ‘The nature of Chinese collective values: formation and evolution’, Int. J. Chinese Culture and Management, vol.1, no.1, pp. 108-125.
Ng, SI, Lee, JA & Soutar, GN 2006, ‘Are Hofstede’s and Schwartz’s value frameworks congruent?’, International Marketing Review, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 164-180.
On, LW. 1996, ‘The Cultural context for Chinese Learners: Conceptions of Learning in the Confucian Tradition’, in D Watkins & J Biggs (eds), The Chinese Learner: Cultural, Psychological, and Contextual Influences, CERC and ACER, Hong Kong and Australia.
Robbins, SP, Millett, B & Waters-Marsh, T 2004, Organisational Behaviour, 4th edn, Pearson Prentice Hall, Sydney.
Roccas, S, Sagiv, L, Schwartz, SH & Knafo, A 2002, ‘The Big Five Personality Factors and Personal Values’, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 789-801.
Ryh-song, Y 1988, ‘On Hofstede’s Treatment of Chinese and Japanese Values’, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 149-160.
Sawyerr, OO, Strauss, J & Yan, J 2005, ‘Individual value structure and diversity attitudes: The moderating effects of age, gender, race, and religiosity’, Journal of Managerial Psychology, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 498-521.
Schwartz, SH 1992, ‘Universals in the content and structure of values: theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 countries’, Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, vol. 25, pp. 1-65.
Schwartz, SH 1999, ‘Cultural value differences: Some implications for work’, Applied Psychology: An International Review, vol. 48, pp. 23-47.
Schwartz, SH 2006, ‘Basic Human Values: Theory, measurement and applications’, Revue Francaise de Sociologie, vol. 47, pp. 249-288.
Steenkamp, J-BEM 2001, ‘The role of national culture in international marketing research’, International Marketing Review, vol.18, no.1, pp. 30-44.
Tai, SHC 2004, ‘The relationship of cultural values and message strategies in service advertising’, Marketing Intelligence & Planning, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 438-454.
Tang, C 1996, ‘Collaborative Learning: the Latent Dimension in Chinese Students’ Learning’, in D Watkins & J Biggs (eds), The Chinese Learner: Cultural, Psychological, and Contextual Influences, CERC and ACER, Hong Kong and Australia.
Teaching and Educational Development Institute 2003, Teaching Large Classes Project 2001 Final Report, The University of Queensland, viewed 1 September 2010, .
The University of Adelaide 2009, 2009 Pocket Statistics, viewed 2 August 2010, .
Volet, S & Renshaw, P 1996, ‘Chinese Students at an Australian University: Adaptability and Continuity’, in D Watkins & J Biggs (eds), The Chinese Learner: Cultural, Psychological, and Contextual Influences, CERC and ACER, Hong Kong and Australia.