Advancing methodologies for cross- cultural studies of collaborative systems

Understanding how collaborative systems are used across countries and cultures is increasingly important to the success of these systems and to the CSCW research community. Studies aiming to examine cross-cultural phenomena, however, must overcome a number of methodological issues that are unique to research in this context. The goal of this workshop is to bring together researchers with an active interest in cross-cultural studies in CSCW, discuss methodological challenges, and arrive at a common understanding of methodological approaches that can be the basis of best practice in our research community. Through presentations on specific methodological problems, such as access to diverse populations, study design, and data analysis, we expect in depth discussions around each of these challenges and, ultimately, to improve the quality of and support the growth of cross-cultural research in the CSCW community.