126 A CASE IN POINT A SAMPLE STUDY OF COLLECTIVISM-INDIVIDUALISM Marshall (1997) examined two samples in New Zealand and Indonesia; both samples included garbage collectors, bus drivers, and senior college professors, Each social category contained 25 respondents, giving a total sample of 150 people. Each group was given a questionnaire that contained 14 statements: seven characteristics of an individualistic orientation and seven representing a collectivist orientation. The respondents had to suggest their agreement with the statements on a 5-point scale. Collectivist statements: (1) I cannot be happy if any of my friends are unhappy. (2) I feel good to work as a part of a large organization. (3) I like to share my problems with my friends. (4) It is wiser to choose your friends from people with similar social and family backgrounds as yourself. (5) The people at work depend on me, so I should not let them down no matter how badly the organization cheats me (6) Most of my decisions are made together with relatives and friends. (7) My first duty is to ensure the well-being of my relatives. Individualistic statements: (1) If the organization I work for suffered financial difficulties and asked me to accept a substantial drop in pay, then I would look for another job. (2) I usually do what I feel is best for me, no matter what others say. (3) Happiness lies in maximizing my personal pleasure. (4) Ideally, I would like to work for myself or own my own company. (5) I deeply resent any invasion of my personal privacy. (6) My happiness depends on my state of mind, regardless of how those around me feel. (7) If I don't look out for myself, no one else will. The results revealed a trend: Indonesian participants were more collectivistic and less individualistic than their counterparts from New Zealand. Because this study examined the same professional groups, the differences between samples may be explained, from the author's point of view, by cultural differences; that is, collectivism and individualism. Question: What other explanations can you offer for the differences found in this project? Please consider that New Zealand is more advanced economically than Indonesia and there is - contrary to Indonesia - a large middle class in New Zealand. 1. 2. 3. 4. 6.