Culture and computer-mediated communication: Toward new understandings | Culture and communication in digital worlds

Author(s): Charles Ess, Fay Sudweeks

Year of publication: 2005

Keywords: Cultural frameworks, Hofstede critique, National culture, Cultural essentialism, Online communication, Collaborative workgroups, Intercultural complexity, Computer-mediated communication (CMC), Minority cultures, Online classrooms

Methodology/Sample: _/_

Reference: Ess, C., & Sudweeks, F. (2006). Culture and Computer-Mediated Communication: Toward New Understandings. In K.W. Miller & M. Taddeo (Eds.), The Ethics of Information Technologies (pp. 415-426). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003075011-31/culture-computer-mediated-communication-toward-new-understandings-charles-ess-fay-sudweeks

Abstract

This chapter highlights the most important critical limitations of the frameworks, including the limitations of Hofstede’s original research database as a basis for generalizations regarding national culture, and questions surrounding the apparent assumptions regarding culture as fixed, essential, and synonymous with national cultures. It develops first alternatives that may prove more useful for researchers attempting to come to grips with the complexities of culture online, including in specific contexts such as online classrooms and collaborative workgroups. A central critique of Hofstede’s work is that it relies on interviews with IBM employees in the 1960s and 1970s, thus raising serious questions about extending any of Hofstede’s findings to national cultures. The chapter shows that the frameworks of Hall and Hofstede “work,” but are most successful with regard to the graphical elements of advertising websites. It makes clear that these frameworks are not well-suited for a range of important foci of CMC research: the multiple minority cultures within a given national culture.

> Summary

The paper reviews Hall’s and Hofstede’s frameworks in online intercultural communication research, highlighting their applications and limitations .
It discusses the adaptation of high context (HC) and low context (LC) communication styles in website design .
The authors emphasize the need for alternative frameworks as online communication evolves and hybrid identities emerge .
Findings suggest that while Hall and Hofstede are useful, they may not adequately address the complexities of modern intercultural interactions .

> Problem statement

The paper critiques Hofstede’s frameworks as overly simplistic for analyzing cultural communication online .
It highlights limitations in Hofstede’s research database and assumptions about culture .
The frameworks may not adequately address hybrid identities emerging from globalization .
Hewling’s analysis shows that Hall and Hofstede’s predictions fail in diverse online interactions .
The collection aims to explore alternative frameworks for a nuanced understanding of intercultural communication .

> Methods used

Not addressed in the paper.

> Practical implications

The paper suggests that Hall’s and Hofstede’s frameworks may not adequately address the complexities of online intercultural communication .
It emphasizes the need for alternative frameworks to better understand cultural interactions in online environments .
The findings indicate that cultural preferences influence technology acceptance and usage patterns in different countries .
The research highlights the importance of considering multiple cultural frames in online classrooms for effective communication .
It calls for a nuanced approach to cultural analysis beyond simple dichotomies, enhancing research relevance .