Cultural resemblance between Japan and Korea has been assumed, because both East Asian cultures are generally characterized by collectivism. However, subsequent investigations suggest a contrast between the two cultures in the decision-making process, concurrent with a growing call for a more elaborate model of self-construal. This study compares the diverse ways of self-construal underlying decisions regarding invitations between Japan and Korea. We conducted a scenario-based questionnaire in which 377 Japanese and Korean college students made decisions regarding whether to invite someone to an activity, to do the activity alone, or to not do the activity. Utilizing classification tree modeling to analyze multivariate categorical data, we examined the participants’ selected actions according to two factors: interpersonal relations (i.e., whether the other was a friend or an unfamiliar but favored classmate) and the locus of interest in a given situation (i.e., whether the event was of interest to the speaker, hearer, or both parties). The results revealed cultural variations in invitations. Japanese students seem to be interdependent, in that they hesitate to invite others unless they have an assured interpersonal relationship, and tend to wait until they are sure of the other’s interest, even when interested themselves. In contrast, Korean students appear more independent in considering the other’s interest and pursuing their own interest. This study highlights the complex ways of self-construal within the alleged collectivist East Asian region, and also demonstrates the applicability of classification tree analysis in differentiating rank orders of multiple factors influencing people’s decision making across cultures.

中文翻译：

---

多因素在东亚地区决策中的作用不同：使用分类树分析的自我建构评估方法

假定了日本和韩国之间的文化相似性，因为东亚两种文化通常都以集体主义为特征。然而，随后的调查表明，在决策过程中两种文化之间存在差异，同时人们越来越要求建立一种更加精细的自我建构模型。这项研究比较了日本和韩国之间关于邀请的自我解释基础决定的各种方式。我们进行了基于情景的调查问卷，其中377名日本和韩国大学生就是否邀请某人参加某项活动，独自进行某项活动或不参加某项活动做出了决定。利用分类树模型来分析多元分类数据，我们根据以下两个因素检查了参与者的选择行为：人际关系（即 对方是朋友还是陌生但喜欢的同学）以及在特定情况下的兴趣所在（即，说话者，听者或双方都感兴趣的事件）。结果显示邀请中的文化差异。日本学生似乎是相互依存的，除非他们之间没有确定的人际关系，否则他们会犹豫不决地邀请他人，并且倾向于等自己确定对方的兴趣后，甚至对自己感兴趣。相反，韩国学生在考虑对方的兴趣和追求自己的兴趣时显得更加独立。这项研究强调了所谓的集体主义东亚地区内自我建构的复杂方式，