Students' Cultural Background as a Determinant of Various Categories of Social Behaviour

Abstract

The aim of this research was to assess in which way the cultural background of students should be taken into account working with students as well as the adjustments of school activities by the school management, and what differences are possible to be noticed in regard to their cultural background. The empiric part of the research covered the sample of students of United World College in Mostar, comprising of 124 examinees coming from total of 47 different countries, but wider part of the research covered and comparisons with 67 students of Gymnasia Mostar, in total, the sample consisting of 191 examinees. In this piece of work, only the results considering the characteristics of students of United World College Mostar. Employing of Hofstede's operationalization’s of national cultures, the students have been, in respect to culture they come from, grouped according to established dimensions: Individualism – Collectivism, Power Distance index, Uncertainty Avoidance index and Masculinity vs. Femininity. Within separate dimensions the comparisons have been carried out regarding to the level of expressed social distance toward the others, level of empathy, intercultural sensibility, locus of control and the assertion of parental control and emotionality dimension. Using t-test, and descriptive statistics, differences between the students have been stated regarding to considered criteria variables, while Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for variable being in linear relation.