Research Lab--Intercultural & Non-Western Perspectives on Communication

Many environmental factors contribute to epigenetic changes in the genome, including drug addiction and drug usage.

What are the important pieces of your identity that best describe you? How might your self-concept be constructed differently in Western vs. Non-Western cultures? How might your friends who are raised in an Interdependent ("Collectivistic") culture have a different view of what makes them important, special, or valued, than your view if you are raised in an Independent ("Individualistic") society? Join us to explore questions like these using the latest computerized scientific measurement in the laboratory! 

Project description

This series of laboratory work towards publication seeks to discretely measure the cultural implications of Interdependent vs. Independent cultural framings of communication narratives. We will subject the theories of Professors Min-Sun Kim of Hawaii-Manoa and Professor Joseph Woelfel of UB to rigorous analysis to see how they might better explain the differences between Western and Non-western, and Hybrid (multicultural) societies. We will explore Conversational Principles and Maxims such as Face-saving, Conformity, Tact, and others, looking for ways to improve current models of influence, relationships, and self-development. 

Project outcome

Students will participate in the research, design, and set-up of laboratory experiments using the Galileo system of computer multidimensional measurement, collecting data toward a student poster session at UB_SIM, Celebration of Academic Excellence event, Fall semester 2022. The data collected may also be used toward formal publication, which students may request to participate in writing as well. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment About 3-5 months
Start time Summer (May/June of 2022)
In-person, remote, or hybrid? Hybrid project
Level of collaboration Large group collaboration (4+ students) 
Benefits Research, writing and laboratory experience
Who is eligible All undergraduate students who have taken COM 101, COM 225

Core partners

  • Dr. Kenton Bruce Anderson, UB
  • Dr. Min-Sun Kim, The University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa
  • Dr. Joseph Woelfel, UB 

Project mentor

Kenton Bruce Anderson

Professor of Instruction

Communication Science

Phone: (716) 645-2368

Email: kba2@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

Students should peruse copies of Professor Min-Sun Kim's book "Non-Western Perspectives on Human Communication: Implications for Theory and Practice" and Professor Joseph Woelfel's Kindle book "The Culture of Science: Is Social Science Science?" 

Keywords

Communication UB-Singapore Institute Mgmt location