Cultural Distance Index (Kogut & Singh)
Cross-culturalReliability: statistical index4 sample items
About this scale
A formula that aggregates absolute differences between countries on Hofstede dimensions into a single cultural-distance index. Used widely in international business and FDI research.
Sample item(s)
“Compute |home - host| for each Hofstede dimension”
“Divide each by the variance of that dimension”
“Sum across dimensions and divide by 4”
“Higher values = greater cultural distance”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: statistical index. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Foundational IB index; some validity concerns; see Shenkar (2001).
Source & citation
Kogut, B., & Singh, H. (1988): The effect of national culture on the choice of entry mode. Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 411–432.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
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