Causal attribution in an intercultural interaction - The effect of stimulus presentation mode

Causal attribution for three different levels of adaptive behaviour by a foreign (Japanese) manager to the cultural expectations of host country (United States) subordinates was examined in an experimental setting. Two methods, written descriptions of the intercultural interaction (scripts) and direct observation (videotapes produced from the scripts), were used to present the behaviour. A main effect was found for the level of adaptive behaviour on attribution to internal causes. There was no significant difference in the accuracy of participants' memory of critical behaviours based on the method used to present the behaviours. However, participants' recognition memory was affected by the level of cultural adaptation to which they were exposed. Also, a significant interaction between method of stimulus presentation and level of cultural adaptation on causal attribution indicated that the mode of presentation may have affected the psychological process under investigation. Implications for the study of intercultural interactions are discussed.