CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN HOSPITABLENESS: A STUDY IN TURKISH CULTURE

Abstract

Purpose – Hospitableness is one of the oldest concepts that define human interactions. Many conceptual and empirical studies have discussed and attempted to capture what this concept means. Some recent studies measured what hospitableness means; however, the cultural differences in hospitableness have not been documented empirically. The current study measured what hospitableness means in Turkish culture. Design/Methodology/Approach – A mixed-method was used in data collection since the cultural context requires a constructivist approach to identify the nuances and intricacies of the highly cultural concept of hospitableness. Using a 26-item scale of hospitableness with the consolidated and new items, an online sample (N=307) was recruited to collect the data. The reliability and validity of the scale were tested using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with IBM’s SPSS 24 and Partial Least Squares-Confirmatory Factor Analysis (PLS-CFA) using SmartPLS 3.0. Findings – Open-ended questions revealed several additional items, some of which cannot be even directly translated into English (e.g., generous-hearted, gönlü bol in Turkish). PCA and CFA procedures revealed a detailed, complicated, and nuanced structure of the hospitableness concept in Turkish culture. The study revealed 19 hospitableness items loading onto six factors; lenience, grace, compassion, civility, proficiency, and veracity, with increasing levels of contributions to Turkish hospitableness in that order. Originality of the research – A measure of hospitableness designed in one culture may be too narrow or too detailed in another culture. Cultural differences need to be carefully handled by the industry; education of both sides may be needed to avoid the cultural clash, disorientation, and even worsening prejudices. This study empirically displays the heavy cultural influence on the concept of hospitableness, which is a common assumption. The study provides empirical evidence for the need to approach cultural concepts with a realist paradigm to capture them in their reality in different cultural contexts.