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All 10 Flashcards — Etic approach
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Question
What is the etic approach?
Answer
Studying behaviour from outside a culture, using general categories to compare across cultures.
Question
Etic vs emic?
Answer
Etic = outside, to compare cultures; emic = inside, on the culture's terms.
Question
What does etic research use?
Answer
Standardised measures applied the same way across cultures.
Question
What is the 'imposed etic'?
Answer
Applying one culture's measure everywhere as if it were neutral — a route to ethnocentrism.
Question
One strength of the etic approach?
Answer
It allows direct comparison across cultures and can reveal possible universals.
Question
One limitation of the etic approach?
Answer
It can impose one culture's categories and miss local meaning.
Question
How is the imposed etic reduced?
Answer
By checking that measures mean the same thing in each culture (and adding emic depth).
Question
Give an example of an etic study.
Answer
Giving the same memory test in ten countries and comparing the scores.
Question
Why combine etic with emic?
Answer
Etic gives comparison; emic gives meaning — together they balance out.
Question
Which concept does etic link to?
Answer
Perspective — it takes the outsider's viewpoint.
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Sociocultural approach
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