Culture and Learning & Cognition
- Learning and cognition differences across cultures may change strategies that people use to learn.
In the Kpelle culture, narrative storytelling is often used to remember things, which is not common in many other cultures.
Case studyShih, Pittinsky and Ambady (1999)
Aim
Do more salient stereotypes influence maths performance?
Method
- Participants (Asian American) were split into two groups. Either their identity was made salient or not.
- They were then asked to complete a maths test.
Results
- Due to stereotypes surrounding Asian Americans and maths performance, those who were more aware of their identity performed better than the control group.
Additional Notes
The study was later conducted in Canada with similar results, demonstrating cross-cultural validity.
Challenges in Research
- Emic Perspective: Researchers may lack the ability to detach from the culture and observe objectively
- Etic Perspective: Researchers may bring in cultural bias.
