QUESTIONNAIRE

Misunderstandings in Cross-cultural Communication

Note: This is a check-list type of questionnaire. While answering the questions, you can check
more than one answer if necessary. If you are choosing the “other” option, you may write
your explanation briefly next to it. The questions 8 and 9 are lickert-scale type of questions.
So, choose the best option in those questions.

Your name & surname: ____________________________

1) Can you please write which nation/cultural background are you from?

___________________

2) Have you ever communicated with someone from another nation/cultural background?

____No
____Yes, indirectly. (online, on phone, by written ways, etc.)
____Yes, directly. (face-to-face)
____Other:

3) Have you ever been in a cross-cultural communication which ended up in

misunderstanding?

____No
____Yes, I misunderstood the person I talked to.
____Yes, I was misunderstood.
____Other:

4) In cross-cultural communication, have you ever misunderstood someone and/or been

misunderstood due to the causes indicated below? Check the applicable one(s).

____Verbal misunderstandings (misunderstanding the words/language used)

____Vocal misunderstandings (misunderstanding what is indicated due to the tone of voice)
____Non-verbal misunderstandings (misunderstanding the body language/gestures etc.)
____None
____Other:
5) In daily life cross-cultural communication, which type of misunderstanding below do you
think is more common? Check the applicable one(s).

____Verbal misunderstandings (misunderstanding the words/language used)

____Vocal misunderstandings (misunderstanding what is indicated due to the tone of voice)
____Non-verbal misunderstandings (misunderstanding the body language/gestures etc.)
____Other:

6) In cross cultural communication, what is more important to you in order not to cause
misunderstandings? Check the applicable one(s).

____Right choice of words

____Right use of voice
____Right use of body language (including facial expressions, gestures, etc.)
____None
____Other:

7) Do you think that speaking in the same language can overcome the misunderstandings in
cross-cultural communication?

____Yes, speaking the same language is enough.

____Yes, if the language is spoken fluently it is enough.
____No, even if the language is spoken fluently it is not enough.
____Other:

8) While communicating with someone in the same language, I think his/her cultural
background is important. (Choose the most appropriate one, circle the number under it.)

Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never

5 4 3 2 1

9) When different cultural backgrounds are involved, I feel like there are communicating
barriers between me and the people I am communicating with. (Choose the most appropriate
one, circle the number under it.)

Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never

5 4 3 2 1
10) If you feel as if there are communicating barriers, what do you think the main reason(s)
is?

____Language related (not speaking the same language, not speaking a mutual language fluently,
foreign accent, using wrong words, expressions, etc.)
____Culture related (being from very different cultural background, having different expressions,
gestures, etc.)
____None
____Other: