The Power Distance Index (PDI) helps to quantify the power distance in various countries. In countries with high power distance, a large amount of emotional distance exists between employees and supervisors in the workplace (Hofstede et. al, 2010). Low power distance countries allow for a small amount of emotional distance.
According to Hofstede et. al (2010), Asian countries, Eastern European countries, Latin countries, Arabic-speaking countries, and African countries have high power distances while German-speaking countries, the Baltic States, the United States, and Great Britain have low power distances.
As an educator, what can you do when a student will not speak up in class? How can you encourage students who come from high power distance cultures to ask for help if needed?
It's up to us to ensure that the doors of communication are open with all of our students.
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind. (3rd Ed.). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN-978-0-07-166418-9
Employing active and collaborative learning strategies might encourage students from high power distance cultures to speak up and ask for help. They may feel more comfortable with these situations since the work is being done in a peer group.
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