Results Analysis

The results of the survey reveal differing attitudes to stinky foods between Chinese and
Native Americans. Generally, Chinese are more likely to view stinky foods in cultural and
nationalistic terms than Native Americans. For instance, 9 in 10 Chinese believe that stinky food
is part of culture compared to 5 in 10 Native Americans. More Chinese (80%) are also likely to
show pride in stinky foods from their country than Native Americans (70%). Lastly, a large
number of Chinese (7 in 10) believe that stinky food from their country is more important to
them compared to just 2 in 10 of Native Americans who hold similar beliefs.
The stronger Chinese association of stinky food with culture/national pride than Native
Americans explains many other responses in the survey. For instance, Chinese are likely to taste
stinky food regardless of its origin – 70% likelihood for both Chinese and non-Chinese stinky
food. For Native Americans, they are more likely to taste stinky food from their own country
(80%) than foreign country (60%). They are also less likely to be polite (40% rude) when
rejecting offers to taste stinky food than Chinese (10% rude).
It is clear that these responses are informed by their varying associations of stinky foods.
Since Chinese more strongly associate stinky food with culture than Native Americans, they are
likely to act in a manner that does not make them look like they are culturally insensitive. That is
why they are likely to taste any stinky food brought to them regardless of its origin and when
rejecting tasting offer, they try to be polite. Native Americans, on the other hand, do not link
their attitudes to stinky foods with cultural sensitivity/insensitivity. That is why more of them are
likely to reject stinky food tasting offer more rudely (40%) and taste their own stinky food (80%)
compared to foreign food (60%).

RESULTS ANALYSIS 3
However, when it comes to determining which foods are healthy for them, the responses
are overwhelmingly nationalistic. The vast majority of Chinese believe that tofu is healthy and
cheese is not while similarly large number of Native Americans believe that cheese is healthy
and tofu is not. These differences in views about the health merits of tofu and cheese could be
because of differing levels of exposure to both foods. A group is likely to conclude that a cuisine
that they are used to is healthier than one that they are less exposed to.