Quantitative methods in cross‐national management research: Trends and equivalence issues

Abstract Cross‐national management articles published in 24 major management‐related journals from 1981 to 1987 are reviewed. The methods used in the quantitative articles are categorized according to the characteristics of the research sites, data, and analytical methods. The review indicates increasing methodological sensitivity, complexity, and sophistication as compared to that found in earlier reviews. Improvement in the field could occur through improved understanding of the inherent limitations in cross‐cultural equivalence and through increased attention to qualitative analysis as a means to handle the ‘etic‐emic’ dilemma.