Results and Comments
An emic/etic approach was used to develop the SAS. An inductive approach was used to identify the SAS fac-
tors and a deductive approach was used to revise the scale. Extensive research has been carried out to establish
the psychometric properties of the scale. The SAS advances theory development in cross-cultural psychology by
extending the domain of assessment from values to beliefs and from personal preferences to the social perception
of the cultural reality.
SOCIAL AXIOMS SUR VEY II
Background
We are conducting a survey research on social beliefs and would like to seek your cooperation to answer some
questions. There are no right or wrong answers. Please answer the questions according to your individual opinion.
The results of the survey will only be used for the purpose of research, and we will keep the results strictly
confidential.
Instructions
The following sentences are statements related to beliefs. Please read each statement carefully, and check the box
that most closely reflects your opinion.
12 3 4 5
Strongly Disbelieve Disbelieve No Opinion Believe Strongly Believe
Please answer all the questions. Thank you for your co-operation!
Social Cynicism
Kind-hearted people usually suffer losses.
Powerful people tend to exploit others.
Reward for Application
One will succeed if he/she really tries.
Hard working people will achieve more in the end.
Social Complexity (also known as Flexibility)
One has to deal with matters according to the specific circumstances.
People may have opposite behaviors on different occasions.
Fate Control
Fate determines one’s successes and failures.
There are certain ways for people to improve their destiny.
Religiosity (also known as Spirituality)
There is a supreme being controlling the universe.
Belief in a religion makes people good citizens.
Notes: Reproduced with permission.
The SAS measures can be downloaded from http://personal.cityu.edu.hk/ Bmgkleung/sa.htm.
Here, we include the instructions for the measure and two sample items for each SAS factor in the Short Form of
SAS II.
Tightness and Looseness Scale (T&LS)
(Gelfand et al., 2011 ).
Variable
The T&LS measures country differences in ‘the strength of social norms and the degree of sanctioning within
societies’ ( Gelfand, Nishii, & Raver, 2006 , p. 1226).646 22. MEASURES OF CROSS-CULTURAL VALUES, PERSONALITY AND BELIEFS
VI. SOCIOCULTURAL INTERACTION AND CONFLICT