1. Conceptual Equivalence This exercise is designed to help you understand the notion of conceptual equivalence. If possible, form a culturally diverse group, ideally with 6–10 members. Identify a construct that is likely to be defined differently by different cultural groups, such as embarrassment, respect, or modesty, and then complete the following tasks:

A. Ask members from different cultural backgrounds to define the chosen concept in simple language independently.

Also write down the typical behaviors that serve as markers for this concept. If you have more than one person with the same cultural background, they can work as a team to complete this task.

B. If your group is culturally homogenous, look for a few cultural informants with diverse cultural backgrounds.

Select a concept and obtain its definition and behavioral markers by interviewing the informants.

C. Each person or group presents the definition of the concept and the associated behavioral markers.

D. Discuss the similarities and differences in the definitions and behavioral markers presented. Try to identify a common definition and a common set of behavioral markers that are appropriate for the cultural groups involved. Assess to what extent this common definition and the associated behavioral markers are likely to be conceptually equivalent across the cultural groups in question.

E. Discuss research designs that can be used to assess whether the behavioral markers are actually conceptually equivalent across the cultural groups involved.