Cultural Ethnocentrism and Imperialism in Citations of American and Scandinavian Psychological Research

Abstract

The present study was conducted in order to document the extent to which ethnocentrism and imperialism exist in American and Scandinavian reports of psychological research. Journal citation analyses indicated that articles appearing in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology referenced numerous US. resources but also many resources from Europe and other parts of the world. In contrast, articles published in American journals cited a preponderance of U.S. sources and, for the most part, excluded reference to Scandinavian psychological research. These findings were interpreted as indicating the existence of empirical ethnocentrism in U.S. journal citations, and media-based cultural imperialism in Scandinavian reports of psychological research. L'Ctude actuelle a ete faite pour documenter a quel point l'ethnocentrisme et l'impirialisme existent dans les rapports amkricains et scandinaves de recherche psychologique. Les analyses des citations de revues professionnelles indiquent que les articles qui paraissent dans The Scandinavian Journal of Psychology font reference aux nombreuses ressources americaines mais aussi a bien des ressources europiennes et B d'autres pays du monde. Par contraste, les articles publies dans les revues amiricaines ont cite une preponderance de resources americaines, et, pour la plupart. n'ont pas fait reference aux recherches psychologiques scandinaves. Ces risultats de recherches semblent indiquer l'existence d'un ethnocentrisme empirique dans les citations des revues americaines et un certain imperialisme culturel, base dans les media, dans les rapports scandinaves de recherches psychologiques. I NTRO D U CTI 0 N Recently, I had the privilege of experiencing the challenge, excitement and pleasure Russell (1 984) associated with interacting with psychologists from Requests for reprints should be sent to Larry E. Grceson,

Torsten Hus�n: A case of ethnocentrism in U.S. educational research?

“…Although simple oversight may be the case, it seems to be more likely the result of the same ethnocentrism found to be apparent in American psychological and educational research (Greeson, 1991;White, 1990). Contrary to TorneyPurta's contention that not enough has been written about international research in sources widely read by U.S. scholars, both White and I have presented evidence suggesting that ethnocentrism rather than ignorance accounts for the apparent undercitation of foreign works.…”

“…It is hoped that these adjustments will enable a more accurate comparison to be made between citation figures found for international journals and journals published in and outside of the United States. Of course, additional Hus6n citations were found to occur in U.S. journals other than the ones mentioned above (e.g., Educational Leadership As with the undercitation of international research found in U.S. psychology, the tendency to undercite international educational research such as Hus6n's can result in missing opportunities to benefit from the results and perspectives of researchers from other parts of the world, as well as to test the generalizibility of one's own research (Greeson, 1991;Russell, 1984).…”

“…Bandura (1986) and others (e.g., Huston, 1987;Williams, 1986) have described ways in which electronic media can impose attitudes and values of one culture upon another via transcultural modeling or "media imperialism." Greeson (1991) and others Baldauf & Jernudd, 1986;Larsen & Magnussen, 1984;Niemi, 1987;Russell, 1984) have applied the concept of media based cultural intrusion to professional scientific publications as well. As these researchers have suggested, a kind of cultural or "academic imperialism" can result when dominant (e.g., U.S.) research methods, findings, and theories are not only valued more highly but imposed, directly or indirectly, upon scientists from other lands.…”

“…The method of citations analysis is well established as a means of determining the comparative significance of educational and social scientific research (e.g., Downing & Stafford, 1981;Greeson, 1991;Roche & Smith, 1981;SSCI Guide, 1990;White, 1990). For purposes of the present study, citations analyses were performed on three sources of information concerning U.S. and international educational research.…”

“…I documented and discussed the paucity of citations of European and Scandinavian research in American psychology journals in terms of cultural ethnocentrism and imperialism in U.S. psychological research (Greeson, 1991). I believe the lack of U.S. educational research references to the work of renowned Postlethwaite, 1986;Richmond, 1974), Hustn's contributions to educational research, policy, and practice appear for the most part to have been ignored by U.S. educational psychologists and researchers.…”