Hofstede and Football Statistics

Despite much criticism, Hofstede’s (1980) cultural model remains persistently popular amongst educationalists and researchers. However it can be argued that the ecological validity of the model has not been tested to the... [ view full abstract ]

Despite much criticism, Hofstede’s (1980) cultural model remains persistently popular amongst educationalists and researchers. However it can be argued that the ecological validity of the model has not been tested to the extent that is perhaps warranted. This study examines the ecological validity of one of its dimensions, Uncertainty Avoidance, using international football/soccer statistics. It is argued that the results support Hofstede’s findings regarding Uncertainty Avoidance, more specifically, it is contended that the degree of ‘home advantage’, and the number of goals per game, in national football leagues reflect the degree of Uncertainty Avoidance in that national culture. The findings are significant given the vast potential relevance of the concept of Uncertainty Avoidance to organisational activities.