Hypothesizing differential item functioning in global employee opinion surveys

Cross-cultural researchers have not used cultural dimensions to predict whe n differential item functioning (DIF) in attitude survey items is likely to occur. Predictive hypotheses for items related to supervision on a global corporate survey were developed based on 3 of Hofstede's (1991a) dimensions . In some cases, greater DIF was found on hypothesized items between countr ies differing on cultural dimensions. Implications for the use of this fram ework and DIF in examining multinational employee opinion surveys are discu ssed.