Differences of Degree or Differences in Kind? A Comparative A ...
Abstract
This study investigated the thinking styles of Australian and Chinese citizens within a framework of reality construction (Sofo, 2005). Questionnaire data were used from two samples: 153 Australians and 561 Chinese respondents. Both samples consisted of a mix of leaders from educational institutions, government and private enterprises as well as tertiary students. Reliability analyses were conducted for the TSI using Cronbach’s alpha and Pearson inter-correlations for each of the five subscales of the TSI in order to determine support for the theory of reality construction. The analyses indicated the key differences between the thinking styles of the two samples. Other theoretical and practical suggestions are made in relation to the TSI and its application.