Cross-Cultural Comparison of Interpersonal Problem-Solving in Students With Mental Retardation

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the problem-solving performance, style, and cross-cultural differences of students with mild mental retardation representing three cultural backgrounds (African American, European American, and Nigerian). Students listened to vignettes (Edeh Scale of Interpersonal Problem Situations) depicting interpersonal problem situations in which a target person was described as facing a problem situation with a specified goal that needed independent resolution. Significant cultural differences were found in problem-solving performance and in style among the three cultural groups. Overall, Nigerians generated more independent responses than did European Americans and African Americans and European Americans generated more independent responses than did African Americans. Overall, males generated more independent problem-solving responses than did females.