Posted by Glenn Omura 1. Market research CLEARLY concludes that UK and Canadian consumers take fewer pictures per capita and have exhibited this behavior for decades. 2. I've actually done more than quick comparisons of data. I personally know the stats person at the Photo Marketing Association, the worldwide trade association for the photo industry, and asked him to send me comparable data across the four countries. The trade association has chapters in each of those countries. He was able to segment out respondents in their datasets to focus on Gen X females with children under 18. This is the common demographic profile that he has compared on various picture taking habits. The Gen X moms in the US and Australia are very similar, whereas this pair is very different from the Candian and UK Gen X moms. These data are self-report mail questionnaires administered by local professional market research agencies. The key behavior question asks for personal estimates of number of pictures taken. My conclusions are statistically supported (.05 level). Each country sample is at least several hundred. However, this is simply the most current data that supports what the industry knows as fact for decades. There are few things that can stated as fact, but it is a fact that people from some countries take fewer pictures per capita. The professional laboratories that for decades do the processing of film (and now, memory cards), also complain about the fewer per capita pictures taken by Canadian and British consumers. 3. I'm interested in why people take pictures, or more to the point, why entire cultures ACTUALLY do it less often. For that reason, I AM interested in Therapeutic Photography, and have opened some of the literature that you and your friends have so generously posted on you site. I had not found any literature on that list that suggests to me why different cultures take more or less pictures. However, thank you for your specific suggestions of literature. I will carefully review them and let you know of what relevance I perceive them to have in relation to my problem. 4. I appreciate your offer of consultation. I'm searching for a theory-based interpretation. I have several colleagues at universities in each of the other three countries who may be willing to collaborate on a cross-cultural study. Before we do so, we need theory to help us conceive the methodology. We certainly KNOW the behavior is different. Now, we want to develop and test a theory that can help explain it. What is so fascinating is that cross-cultural theorists often put down research among these four countries as not really being "cross cultural" because they are so "similar" in culture. This particular behavior that SEEMS so important in the US and Australia, SEEMS to be MUCH less important in two other English-speaking countries. Thanks so much for your reply Glenn
on 5/19/2007, 10:15 am, in reply to "Re: Cultural differences in picture taking behavior"
24.27.217.216
Thanks for answering Judy. I'll try to respond to your questions.
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