Research Forum: Conversational Turn-taking Behaviors of Japanese and Americans in Small Groups

Research Forum:
Conversational Turn-taking Behaviors of
Japanese and Americans in Small Groups
Michael T. Hazel,
Kagoshima Immaculate Heart College;
Joe Ayres,
Washington State University
This study examined conversational tum-taking behaviors between japanese and
American participants in small groups. Because of cultural differences, it was
hypothesized that Americans would employ self-select turn-taking procedures
proportionately more often than japanese and that japanese would employ otherselect
turn-taking procedures proportionately more often than Americans. These
expectations were tested in eight groups; two comprised all japanese participants,
two comprised all American participants and four comprised an equal number of
japanese and American participants. Each group contained four members. Results
supported the expectations outlined above in the culturally uniform groups.
However, in the culturally diverse groups, japanese and Americans did not differ
in the proportions of self and other select turn-taking behaviors. In these groups,
though, the Americans took significantly more turns than did the japanese.