Abstract Book of the 9th International Conference on Research in Education
Year: 2025
DOI:
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Cultural Tightness at the University: A Case Study on Faculty Members at the College of Education, Kuwait University
Sara Alnufaishan
ABSTRACT:
The purpose of the study was twofold: (a) to explore the levels of cultural tightness at the university institution as perceived by the faculty members, and (2) to examine these faculty members’ perceptions of the level of cultural tightness-looseness they practice with their students in the classroom. Data collection for this mixed methods study was carried out by means of quantitative (the Cultural Tightness in College Classrooms as Perceived by Faculty Members Scale), as well as qualitative (classroom observation and semi-structured interviews) instruments to investigate the degree to which the faculty members’ beliefs about cultural tightness within the university are reflected in their actual classroom practices. Ninety-five faculty members from the Faculty of Education at Kuwait University participated in the quantitative phase of this study, six of whom were interviewed to triangulate the data. According to the results obtained, the participants reported moderate levels of cultural tightness they perceive within the university and practice towards social behaviors both related and unrelated to their students’ learning. Moreover, analyzing qualitative data revealed the participants’ awareness of the social norms and absolute values as key attributes of cultural differences and variations in social behaviors, and that the cultural specificity of a conservative society like Kuwait can have some implications for the practice of cultural tightness-looseness in this context. The study concluded with putting forth recommendations and suggestions for further research.
keywords: moral values, social norms, cultural specificity- cultural characteristics of organizations, mixed methods research design