Content area
Abstract
Purpose of the Study. The main purpose of this study was to identify behaviors associated with effective and ineffective cross-cultural communication as experienced by Malaysian-Malays and African-American students at a midwestern university. To supplement the understandings developed from the respondents, the relationship between perceived effectiveness in cross-cultural communication and the respondents' level of tolerance of ambiguity was examined.
Design of the Study. The study utilized a mixed-method approach where participant and unobtrusive observation were used to complement the critical incidents collected through direct interviews. Additional data was collected through a written questionnaire that was completed after the interview. Twenty-seven of the thirty-two students that were approached completed the interview and the questionnaire.
Data Analysis. Data analysis for question one was done using Flanagan's category formation in the critical incident technique. Transcripts of interviews were carefully read and color-coded. A further reduction in categories was made to conduct a $\chi\sp 2$ for two independent samples, Malaysian-Malays and African-Americans. Sixteen categories of effective and fourteen categories of ineffective cross-cultural communication behaviors were identified.
Findings. For both Malaysian Malays and African-Americans effective cross-cultural communication included the following categories: Positive Personal Characteristics, Cooperative Communication Technique, Cultural Awareness, and Responding to Perceived Needs. These categories are based on reported behaviors. There was, however, a significant difference between the two groups with what was defined as effective with Malaysian-Malays emphasizing Responsive to Perceived Needs and African-Americans emphasizing Positive Personal Characteristics. The ineffective cross-cultural communication included the following categories: Temperament, Uncooperative Communication Technique, Negative Personal Characteristics, Problems from Unfulfilled Needs and Misinformation. No difference in ineffective cross-cultural communication was found between the Malaysian-Malays and the African-Americans.
