“Differences in Cross-Cultural Nonverbal Communication” Survey

Dear participants,

This questionnaire is designed to investigate cross-cultural differences in nonverbal communication and

culture shocks in nonverbal communication experienced by international instructors in Taiwan. The

following includes three parts and will take about 10-15 minutes of your time. Thank you for participation

and contributions, and please be assured that the collected information is only for research purpose.

Researcher: Yin-Chien (Connie) Chen, Graduate Institute of Applied Foreign Languages, National Yunlin

University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Advisor: Cheng-Ji Lai, Ph.D., Department of English, National Taichung University of Education, Taiwan,

R.O.C.

Part I: Demographic Information

1. Gender:_____________

2. Nationality:________________

3. Length of Stay/Residence in Taiwan: __________________

※Please rate your culture shock level based on when you first arrived Taiwan. If it's your first time to

know some of the nonverbal expressions, please image your culture shock level towards them.

Part II: Cross-Cultural Differences and Culture Shocks in Nonverbal Communication

(1) Cross-Cultural Differences in Hand Gestures

Hand Gestures in

Taiwan

Intended

Meaning(s)

Please tick (v) if it

means differently in

your culture.

Your

Meaning(s)

of the

Gesture

Please rate your culture shock

levels about this gesture in 0-4

with the higher indicating the

higher culture shock.

Using the index finger

to point at othersYou 0 1 2 3 4

Using the index finger

to point at oneselfI 0 1 2 3 4

Showing the middle

fingerCursing sb. 0 1 2 3 4

Both arms crossing in

front of one’s chest

offensive,

unsecure0 1 2 3 4

Using the middle

finger and the index

finger spinning

besides one’s head

Indicating

someone is

crazy or

mentally

retarded

0 1 2 3 4

Waving one’s hand to

others

Greeting or

saying good-

bye

0 1 2 3 4

money,

no problem 0 1 2 3 4

A sign of

feeling

cheerful in

photo-taking,

called “YA”

0 1 2 3 4

Male (sign

language),

good0 1 2 3 4

Female (sign

language),

loser,

small potato

0 1 2 3 4

Bad,

small potato 0 1 2 3 4

↓

Somebody

passed away 0 1 2 3 4

No

↓

0 1 2 3 4

I don’t know! 0 1 2 3 4

Pray,

worshiping,

begging

0 1 2 3 4

↓You’re dead! 0 1 2 3 4

↓Come over! 0 1 2 3 4

Please specify any commonly-used or tabooed hand gestures in your culture for us to learn or avoid.

Hand Gestures Intended Meaning(s)

(2) Cross-Cultural Differences in Body Movements

Body

Movements

in Taiwan

Intended

Meaning(s)

Please tick (v) if it

means differently in

your culture.

Your Meaning(s)

of the Body

Movement

Please rate your culture shock

levels about this movement in

0-4 with the higher indicating

the higher culture shock.

Nodding Showing

agreement

0 1 2 3 4

Shaking one’s

head

Showing

disagreement

0 1 2 3 4

Bowing Showing respect

or thanks

0 1 2 3 4

Jumping Feeling happy or

excited

0 1 2 3 4

Shrugging one’s

shoulders

I don’t know 0 1 2 3 4

Please specify any commonly-used or tabooed body movements in your culture for us to learn or avoid.

Body Movements Intended Meaning(s)

(3) Cross-Cultural Differences in Facial Expressions

Facial Expressions

in Taiwan

Intended

Meaning(s)Please tick (v) if it means

differently in your culture.

Your

Meaning(s) of

the Facial

Expression

Please rate your culture

shock levels about this

expression in 0-4 with the

higher indicating the higher

culture shock.

Happy0 1 2 3 4

Contempt,

scornful

0 1 2 3 4

Disgusting 0 1 2 3 4

Sad0 1 2 3 4

Interested0 1 2 3 4

Surprised0 1 2 3 4

Angry0 1 2 3 4

Fearful0 1 2 3 4

Worries0 1 2 3 4

Confused0 1 2 3 4

Please specify any commonly-used or tabooed facial expressions in your culture for us to learn or avoid.

Facial Expressions Intended Meaning(s)

(4) Cross-Cultural Differences in Touching Behaviors

Touching

Behaviors in

Taiwan

Intended Meaning(s)

Please tick (v) if

it means

differently in

your culture.

Your Meanings of

the Touching

Behaviors

Please rate your culture

shock levels about this

behavior in 0-4 with the

higher indicating the

higher culture shock.

Patting on

someone’s

shoulder

Showing care or comfort0 1 2 3 4

HuggingShowing care, sympathy, or

love, usually among females

0 1 2 3 4

Please specify any commonly-used or tabooed touching behaviors in your culture for us to learn or avoid.

Touching Behaviors Intended Meaning(s)

(5) Cross-Cultural Differences in Personal Distance

Personal Space in TaiwanIf different, please tick (v)

and specify differences.

Please rate your culture shock levels about this

distance in 0-4 with the higher indicating the

higher culture shock

Meeting someone at the first time

With the

same sex

About 60-80 cm

(23-31inches)

0 1 2 3 4

With the

opposite sex

About 100 cm

(40 inches)

0 1 2 3 4

Daily interactions

With the

same sex

About 30-50 cm

(10-20 inches)

0 1 2 3 4

With the

opposite sex

About 50-70 cm

(20-27 inches)

0 1 2 3 4

With About 30-50cm 0 1 2 3 4

parents (11-20 inches)

With

siblings

About 20-40 cm

(7-15 inches)

0 1 2 3 4

With

colleagues

About 60-80 cm

(23-31 inches)

0 1 2 3 4

With close

friends

Within 15 cm

(5 inches)

0 1 2 3 4

With

romantic

partner

Within 10 cm

(3 inches)

0 1 2 3 4

With spouse Within 10 cm

(3 inches)

0 1 2 3 4

Part II I : Coping Strategies for Cross-Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication

What are the commonly-adopted coping strategies taken by you to cope with the cross-cultural differences in

nonverbal communication and culture shocks in nonverbal communication?

1. _______________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________

The end of the questionnaire!Your contribution is highly appreciated!