IELTS Academic Reading Practice 36

A The population of the world today is 7 billion people, and is continuing to grow. Yet humans all around the world differ in many ways. Variations in humans can be affected by differences in geography, climate, politics, nationality, as well as many other factors. One important factor which strongly influences people around the world is culture.

B Culture can have an affect on the languages we speak, the clothes we wear, and even the foods that we eat. However, could it be possible that the influence of culture is strong enough to affect the way we actually think? For a long time, many have believed that this very well might be the case. Take for example a young boy from the city, who might talk about cars, while a boy the same age from the countryside might instead talk about livestock. If we were to ask two young children from different countries about their opinions on a particular painting, their cultural backgrounds would likely affect the kind of response they would give.

C New research has recently emerged which challenges this stance. But, in fact, this more current research is not unique in its approach to culture’s potential effects on our thinking. Earlier research has shed light on these kind of questions, as well. In the Soviet Union, an earlier research project was created to explore the question of whether culture can effectively change our thinking processes. The research paid particular attention to the ways that life circumstances and country of origin could influence how people think. Bessett led this experiment, which questioned people’s awareness of cognitive psychology. To test different cognitive processes individually, Bessett conducted several varieties of this experiment.

D One such experiment headed by Bessett and Masuku involved showing participants an animated video depicting a large fish swimming with smaller fish and other sea animals. Subjects then needed to talk about what they had seen in the scene. While the members participating from Japan were more likely to spend time talking about the undersea environment they had seen, perhaps the plants or the water’s color, or discussing the apparent relationship of the big and small fish. Meanwhile, American participants spent more time discussing the individual fish themselves, mainly the larger fish, or those with unique characteristics. The experiment led researchers to believe that members of Eastern cultures would tend to focus more on the larger picture within the scene, while Westerners would focus more individual fish and their traits.

E Bessett and Choi carried out another experiment in which the subjects were given some compelling proof for one side of an issue. Both Koreans and Americans participating voiced their agreement strongly. Later, participants were then presented with other evidence which argued against that particular position. It was at this point that the Koreans’ support for the previous stance began to lessen and waver somewhat. On the other hand, American participants instead supported the former argument even more strongly. The results in this experiment gave the impression of support for arguments  based on context being more important in Korean culture. It seems that opinions and decisions may be apt to change for some, allowing them to feel more open to change their minds. However, as far as Americans are concerned, when it comes to changing a previously held stance they are overall less flexible.

F Bessett and Ara came up with another experiment intended to find out more about thought processing of both oriental and occidental worlds. Test subjects were provided with an argument, such as, “All animals with furs hibernate. A rabbit has fur. Therefore, rabbits hibernate.” Those from eastern cultures would immediately approach the argument with skepticism, questioning its logic against their own previous knowledge of the fact that some animals with fur do not hibernate. However, American participants would tend to agree with the statement regardless, assuming that a logical deduction must come from an inherently correct argument, making the conclusion correct.

G From the information found in these early experiments from the Soviet Union, we might come to the conclusion that culture does in fact influence our way of thinking, as was the original presumption. However, recent research criticizes this view, as well as Bessett’s other previous experiments. Although his experiments affected many commonly held beliefs of the past on thought processing, further discussion is necessary concerning the influence of some other aspects that may have been at play. Fischer agrees that Bessett’s experiments can teach us something usefu, but that his research is limited in the way that it relies solely on qualitative descriptions, as opposed to results from a controlled environment. Chang voices his partial with this, owing to the fact that there are some social factors that could have potential effects on the results.

H Bessett’s experiments has also been criticized for the way that it viewed culture as being a lesser part of which country someone is from. The experiments made assumptions about culture as being more or less the same amongst people from the same country. For example, all of the American participants of the experiments might be assumed to share an identical culture. However, culture as a whole seems to be complex beyond just a nationality. In these experiments from the past, there was no control in place to account for any outside factors, such as socioeconomic status, education, ethnicity, and/or regional differences which exist alongside culture. Each one of these factors may impact individual’s response quite a bit.

I Bessett’s experiment has been further criticized for the content itself, which many believe would have benefited from being more abstract, such as an IQ test or a puzzle. The more objective content, involving questions about nature and animals, might rely more on preconceived ideas about these animals which people could differ significantly around the world. Participants’ past knowledge stemming from their geographic locations could lead to further complications within the results. A more abstract, or more quantitative test, would allow for a more controlled study into the way that cognitive processing operates for a variety of people.

J Research concerning the effect which culture can have on cognitive processing is ongoing today, and despite the fact that some criticize Bessett’s early studies, there is still plenty of useful information with which they can provide us. However, future research projects should make it their goal to control carefully for outside variables which exist within such a broad topic as culture. The complexity of culture as a topic make defining it a challenge, as it can be influenced by many other variables as well, such as location or level and style of education. A variable like culture requires a clear definition for what is—and what is not—to be effectively studied.

K One more significant factor to consider with research today is any potential ethical impacts that the research could have. Researchers should closely consider the way that research results may impact any of the groups involved in a negative way. In an increasingly globalized job market and economy, making generalizations on the behavior of the members of specific nationalities may pose harm to potential employees. The design for tests and university admissions standards may also be impacted, and some groups may have certain advantages or disadvantages. With all research concerning culture and nationality, it’s important for researchers to think about the effects, positive or negative, that their published conclusions may have on the world around them.