gribusiness and Economics Research Unit
PO Box 84, Lincoln University
Canterbury 8150, New Zealand
Telephone 64 3 321-8291
Facsimile 64 3 325-3847
www.lincoln.ac.nz
E-mail: John.Fairweather@lincoln.ac.nz
Dear Respondents,
The study in which you are about to participate is part of a research programme at Lincoln University in New Zealand in which innovation is being studied across multiple nations. The following interview is divided into four sections. The first three sections ask about culture, national identity and innovation, respectively. In the fourth section, a series of scales are given and you are asked to indicate either level of agreement with, or importance of, a given statement. None of the questions posed in any of the four sections have a right or wrong answer. We are merely seeking your opinion.
We appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to aid us in our research.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Fairweather and Dr. Tiffany Rinne.
Instructions:
- Please complete this computer-based interview in one sitting and keep track of the time spent in completing the interview. At the end of the interview we ask you to record this time.
- We ask that you do not use additional resources (friends, the internet, reference books) to answer any of the questions. We are seeking information about your opinions and thoughts—things that are on the top of your mind.
- Please take care to answer each question completely. Some questions have multiple components.
- Please answer each question as fully as possible, keeping in mind that the researcher analysing the interviews is not a citizen of your country and therefore will not necessarily be aware of the significances of certain events, people, or ideas.
- We would prefer your answers to be in English but if you find you have to use your own language, please do so.
- Upon completion of the interview, please e-mail the interview as an attachment to tiffanyrinne76@gmail.com
Culture - A culture is a way of life of a group of people--the behaviours, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next.
- Please name five popular people that you consider represent your country’s true values or ideals. After each name please describe what values or ideals each person represents.
- Please name five important symbols used in your country’s culture, as a whole. What does each symbol represent?
- Please give five examples of sayings/phrases that best reflect your country’s culture. What does this saying/phrase mean?
- Please give five examples of important historical events that have influenced your country’s culture. What is the significance of each historical event?
- What role does technology play in your country’s culture? Please explain how technology is significant or not significant.
- Who are important people in science and technology within your country? What are they known for?
- What role does sport play in your country’s culture? Please explain how sport is significant or not significant.
- What role do the ‘arts’ play in your country’s culture? By the ‘arts’ we mean music, theatre, dance, movies, painting, writing, sculpture etc. Please explain how the ‘arts’ are significant or not significant.
- Who are important people in sports for your country? What are they known for?
- Who are important people in the arts for your country? What are they known for?
- If you had to describe your country’s culture using five words or phrases to best characterize it what would they be?
National Identity - National identity derives from the image citizens have of their country and the nation’s perceived or actual international image in world opinion.
- How would you characterize your country’s national identity?
- How do you think your country is identified internationally?
- What are the things you like most about living in your country? Please name at least five positives about living in your country.
- What are the things you like least about living in your country? Please name at least five negatives about living in your country.
- What historical events played an important part in the formation of your country’s national identity? Please explain how each event influenced national identity.
- What sporting achievements are important to your country’s national identity? Why are these achievements important?
- What arts achievements are important to your country’s national identity? Why are these achievements important?
- What science and technology achievements are important to your country’s national identity? Why are these achievements important?
- What kind of political influence does your country have in the international community? Is this an important factor in national identity? Why or why not?
- How significant is your country’s military to national identity? In what way is the military significant or not significant for national identity?
- How would you like your country’s military to be utilized?
- If you had to describe your country using five words or phrases what would they be?
Innovation - A new idea, system, method, or device that is brought to market
- How important is innovation and technology to your country? Please explain how it is significant or not significant?
- Do you think that the average citizen of your country is technologically knowledeable? What improvements could be made?
- What are five characteristics (personality attributes) of your country’s citizens that you think make them good at innovation? These would be characteristics possessed by a majority of citizens.
- What are five characteristics (personality attributes) of your country’s citizens that would constrain innovation? These would be characteristics possessed by a majority of citizens.
- Has your country’s history influenced your country’s innovation in any way? Please explain.
- What are some significant sectors, companies or products that have been innovative within your country? Please explain how each has been innovative (inventive ideas/processes/products, inventive business planning, innovative marketing, design).
- Is your place of work innovative? If so, in what ways?
- Would you feel comfortable talking with your boss about ideas you may have regarding ways to innovate? Why or why not?
- Have you ever invented anything or known someone who has? If so, what was it and was it successful?
- Would producing an invention be something you could see yourself doing in the future? What would stop you from trying to invent something?
- Where does most innovation occur in your country? For example, does it occur in businesses, research institutes, universities, or people’s backyard?
- How easy would it be for an individual with an invention to bring it to market? What impediments would they face?
- What are the main factors that would drive a person to invent something and bring it to market?
- Do you consider invention to be a good way to enhance an individual’s financial situation? Why or why not?
- Are you aware of any government policies to support innovation within your country? If so, what are they and are they effective?
- Do you think other countries consider your country to be innovative? If yes, in what way?
- Please name the five countries that you consider to be the most innovative in the world. Taking each country in turn, why do you consider each of these nations to be innovative?
- How does your country compare to these top innovators with regards to innovation?
- What are specific areas in which your country is not as innovative as other nations?
For the people of your country as a whole, how important are each of the following items of culture?
Not Really Slightly Moderately Very
Important at All Important for Important For Important for
For Most People Most People Most People Most People
1 2 3 4
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Religion
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Culinary (eating) traditions
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Music
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Dance
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Technology
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Outdoor activities (tramping, fishing etc.)
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Playing sports
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Viewing national and international competitive sports
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Rural living
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Urban living
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Fashion
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Inventiveness
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A common language
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A shared set of values/values in common
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Environmentalism
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Ethnic identity
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Art (Paintings, Photographs, Sculptures)
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Architecture
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Shared history
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Self expression
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For the people of your country as a whole, how important are each of the following items of national identity?
Not Really Slightly Moderately Very
Important at All Important for Important For Important for
For Most People Most People Most People Most People
1 2 3 4
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Achievements in sports
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The way democracy works
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Achievements in arts
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Economic achievements
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The military
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Political influence on the world stage
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Scientific achievements
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Technological achievements
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Fair treatment of ethnic groups
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Contribution to world history
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International peacekeeping efforts
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Environmental consciousness
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The natural landscape
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Unique cultural values
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How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following?
Strongly Disagree Neither Agree Agree Strongly
Disagree nor Disagree Agree
1 2 3 4 5
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It is important to have a sense of adventure
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Technological innovation is not important
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It is rewarding to solve challenging problems
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It is important to have change and variety in life
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Business innovation should not be highly valued
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It is important to speak up for yourself in life
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A sense of community is important
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It is good to be a risk-taker
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Cooperation should be highly valued
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Creativity is important
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Personal financial security should not be highly valued
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Individualism is more important than collectivism
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Competition is an important part of life
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Businesses in your country provide a supportive work environment to their employees
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Efficiently completing tasks should be highly valued
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It is important to be modest about one’s achievements
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It is not important to achieve excellence in one’s work
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It is not important to be supportive of each other’s successes
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Businesses in your country highly value personal independence in the workplace
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It is important to be given praise in the workplace
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Personal independence is an important component of life
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It is not important to achieve intellectually
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Everyone should highly value knowledge
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Individuality should not be highly valued
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Businesses in your country foster creativity
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It is important to act in a caring manner towards one’s colleagues at work
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It is not important to receive public recognition for one’s accomplishments
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It is important to achieve a position of power at work
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It is not important to achieve wealth
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Openness to experience should be highly valued
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It is important to have a supportive work environment
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Creative employees are not appreciated in the workplace
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How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
Disagree Disagree Neither Agree Agree Agree
Strongly nor Disagree Strongly
1 2 3 4 5
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The people of your country are… ...innovative (able to bring a new idea, process, product to market)
…Inventive (creation of a new idea, process, or product)
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Your country is innovative in… …manufacturing
…the primary sector (agriculture, fishing, mining)
…the service sector (industries that service a customer)
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A significant amount of innovation in your country occurs… …at universities
… at research institutes
…in businesses
…in the “backyard shed”
…by users of technology taking it and modifying it to fit their needs
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Technology… …is, in general, an important component of society
… makes life easier overall
…is something I generally feel comfortable using
… is something most people within my country generally feel comfortable using
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It is important for … …individuals to be innovative
…businesses to be innovative
…countries to be innovative
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If countries lack innovation they will fail economically
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It is important that my country works hard to be one of the most innovative nations in the world
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Personal freedom is a necessary prerequisite for innovation
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The average person in my country could invent something and bring it successfully to market
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My country’s government helps innovators bring their products to market
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Disagree Disagree Neither Agree Agree Agree
Strongly nor Disagree Strongly
1 2 3 4 5
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I could enhance my financial situation… …by inventing a new process or product
…by investing in a new invention
…by investing in a company known for innovation
…by investing in property
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Innovation is… …needed for companies to prosper/do well
…part of my country’s culture
…facilitated by the business environment in my country
…important to the people of my country
…a risky /process/undertaking
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At work…. …it is important to avoid risk-taking
…people feel comfortable talking to the boss about business ideas
…everyone is treated as an equal
…we strive to be innovative
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My country is more innovative than…… … other European countries
…the United States
… Japan
…New Zealand
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Demographic Questions
- Are you Male or Female?
______Male
______Female
- What is your date of birth? _________________
- What is the highest level of education you have completed?
______Less than high school
______Lower High school
______Upper High School
______Trade/Vocational/Technical
______University
- What is your occupation? _______
- For you alone, what is your approximate monthly income? (please include the currency)____________
- What is your approximate household income? (please include the currency)___________________
- What is your primary language/mother tongue?___________________
- To which national culture do you most identify? _____________________
- How long have you been living in the country where you now live?________________
9. How long did it take you to complete this computer-based interview?___________________
Kalenteri
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