Resources for Conducting Cross-National Survey Research

Abstract

This article describes some valuable resources, especially those available on the web, which can assist in conducting cross-national survey research. Cross-national survey research is a complex and challenging endeavor. Designing a reliable and valid comparative study is notably more difficult than constructing a single monolingual/monocultural survey. Besides the whole array of components that encompass total-survey error in one survey, there is a parallel set of comparison errors that apply in cross-national surveys. Likewise, comparative analysis is complicated by these comparison errors, and even well-conducted comparative surveys may produce erroneous results due to failing to achieve functional equivalence at the design, collection, and/ or analysis stages. Even locating cross-national data for secondary analysis can be a challenge. The best overall resource for conducting cross-national survey research is the Cross-Cultural Survey Guidelines (CCSG). CCSG is frequently updated, and a comprehensive revision is underway with release scheduled for 2015. Besides the major archives and the catalogues and search tools designed to access their holdings, there are the websites maintained by individual cross-national programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)