Examining Gift-Giving Motives in a Cross-Cultural Context by Vinita P
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Examining Gift-Giving Motives in a Cross-Cultural Context by Vinita P. Ambwani A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Management Carleton University, Ottawa January, 2014 ABSTRACT The purpose of this research was to explore the gift-giving motives of migrants. The first objective was to develop statistically validated measures of the motives of gift-giving in the context of migrants giving gifts to their siblings or to those with whom they have a sibling like relationship, on the occasion of home country travel. The second objective was to examine the relationships between gift-giving motives, Schwartz’ basic human values, immigrants’ intention to return permanently to their home country, and their relative economic status. The data came from South-Asian and Lebanese Canadian samples. Data was collected in two stages via a self-administered survey which could be completed on-line or in a pencil and paper format. In Stage One, 207 usable cases were obtained and in Stage Two, 316 valid cases were obtained. The data in Stage One was subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses as well as reliability analyses to develop an eight-factor gift-giving motives measurement scale. In Stage Two the data were subjected to the same analyses to refine the measurement scale developed in Stage One. Measures were successfully developed for the following eight theoretically driven constructs representing gift-giving motives: agonistic, insurance, demonstrating achievement/seeking status, maintaining rituals, reciprocity, utilitarian, guilt, and maintaining social ties. Regression analyses supported theorized links between self-enhancement values and gift-giving motives of agonistic, insurance and demonstrating achievement and seeking status. Similarly, the hypothesized relationships between conservation values and gift-giving motives of maintaining rituals, maintaining social ties, and guilt were also supported. Self-transcendence values were found to predict utilitarian and maintaining social ties motives of gift-giving and openness to change values were found to predict the agonistic motive, as theorized. The relationships between self-transcendence values and guilt and between conservation values and insurance were not supported. The predicted relationships of self-transcendence and ii conservation values with the gift-giving motive of reciprocity was not supported, suggesting that this motive, in particular, needs further exploration in future research. The findings of this research provide a comprehensive set of measures for gift-giving motives and insights into their relationship with basic human values for continued conceptual, theoretical and empirical work on the topic of gift-giving. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Before all things, I need to acknowledge and thank the many academics, family and friends who supported me and helped me with this work. This work is dedicated to the memory of Vaishaali, my youngest child, whose coming and going in this world set me on this journey. To my other daughter, Vrinda, I want to acknowledge and thank her for the many sacrifices she made over the years as this journey continued. I was always keenly aware that while other young children were baking cookies with their mothers, Vrinda was growing up beside me in the computer labs at Carleton University quietly listening to discussions on data analysis. The grace and sense of humour with which she accepted this dynamic taught me so much. To my husband, Vijay: I wouldn’t have survived this without all those wonderful cups of tea. Thank you for your patience. My sincere thanks go to Dr. Lorraine Dyke, co-supervisor of this work who provided much wise counsel and tireless support from the beginning to the end of this work. She is an individual who I hugely admire not only because of her insightful feedback and commentary but also for demonstrating some of the finest human qualities I’ve encountered, treating every individual with respect and dignity, and fiercely standing by the interests of her students. Truly, Lorraine, there were a number of times that I could not or would not have continued in the program had it not been for you. My heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Louise Heslop, co-supervisor of this thesis, who provided invaluable advice and guidance and worked tirelessly to support my work. I will always admire her as someone whose work-ethic, dedication to her students, fairness and high standards are unmatched. Many, many thanks, Louise, I am fortunate to have had you as my thesis advisor and I will always strive to follow your example. I want to thank Dr. Steven Murphy for his unwavering support and for believing in my work and me even when I didn't. Steven, you have been one of the most positive influences throughout this journey. My sincere thanks go out to Dr. Robin Ritchie for his support, insight and time. Thank you for graciously stepping in late in the process. I couldn't have asked for a more supportive committee member. I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Eileen Fischer, a well-known authority on the subject of gift-giving, who served as an external examiner for the defense of the thesis. Thank you for making the time and providing some very useful feedback and advice. Dr. Shalom Schwartz’s work in the area of Basic Human Values was an important foundation piece for this work. Your generosity in sharing background information, copies of iv questionnaires, articles published in languages other than English as well as helpful techniques and tips, were very much appreciated. I want to thank Dr. Earnest Kwan for his generous help with teaching methodological techniques as well as Dr. Nicholas Papadopoulos and Dr. Leighann Neilson for their valuable guidance in the earlier part of this journey. In addition to Drs. Louise Heslop, Lorraine Dyke, Steven Murphy and Nicholas Papadopoulos, Drs. Roland Thomas, and Vinod Kumar taught PhD courses that served as important building blocks for this work. I wish to offer collective and individual thanks to the following individuals: Melissa Doric for her dedication, infectious, positive attitude and ability to resolve all of the administrative issues that are so integral to this journey. Holly Anderson provided encouragement and gave generously of her time in reviewing and providing comments on my writing. Thank you for being a wonderful and supportive friend. To my friends in New Brunswick, your love and belief in me has been my constant source of strength in life. Thank you for always being there - then and now. My sincere gratitude goes out to my siblings and extended family, especially my niece Sanjana and her beloved spouse, my nephew, Dheeraj Asnani, for their help with data collection efforts. I want to acknowledge many of my PhD colleagues and their families. In particular, I want to thank Vedmani, Harry and Gini, Aareni, Samina and Inderjit for their advice, support and assistance throughout this process. Francine Burdick’s unwavering support helped me deliver on my other career responsibilities. I couldn’t have done this without your help, Francine. To all of the many other colleagues, friends and family who contributed with love, patience, support and help with data collection, my sincere gratitude for your loving contribution. Thank you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................... 15 1.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................... 15 1.2 Background for the Study ............................................................................................... 18 1.2.1 Economic Significance of Gift-giving .......................................................................... 21 1.2.2 Immigrants and Gift-Giving ........................................................................................ 22 1.3 Statement of Objectives and Scope of the Study ........................................................... 24 1.4 Contributions................................................................................................................... 26 1.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................ 29 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 29 2.2 The Concept of a Gift ...................................................................................................... 31 2.2.1 Gift-giving in an Interpersonal versus a Charitable Context ...................................... 33 2.2.2 Gifts versus Personal Use Items ................................................................................. 33 2.2.3 Self-Gifting versus Gifting Others .............................................................................. 34 2.3 Theoretical Developments .............................................................................................. 35 2.3.1 The Exchange Paradigm ............................................................................................. 36 2.3.2 Economic Exchange Theory ....................................................................................... 36 2.3.3 The Relational Paradigm ...........................................................................................