ABSTRACT
The chapter discusses the four major methodological criticisms of Hofstede’s cross-cultural research most frequently put forth in pertinent literature: 1) individual assessments of an aggregate construct, 2) measuring culture via questionnaires, 3) a specific single-company sample, and 4) the psychometric properties of Hofstede’s instrument. While these are all quite justified, especially the last one, a closer look at the context of Hofstede’s work in terms of its historical roots, its usage in later research, and the qualities of similar concepts suggests that, given the realities of social research, calls for an outright rejection of his concept on methodological grounds are unwarranted.
