Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory in Thai foods and beverages video advertisements

Abstract: 

This article provides a combination of qualitative and quantitative content analysis to study Thai foods and beverages video advertisements collected from the two major video websites, YouTube and Bilibili. As for the indicators for classification, the theoretical sources are mainly Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory, with message framing theory and Higgins’ regulatory focus theory as supplement. The product categories (functional or common product) is also adopted as a variable. Findings suggest that there is a relatively strong correlation between achievement-interpersonal relationships orientation (in masculinity-femininity) and pragmatism-hedonism (in indulgence-restraint), and between functional-common products and pragmatism-hedonism as well. In addition, Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory are not always reflected so well in Thai foods and beverages video advertisements, thus we can find out that not all Hofstede’s cultural dimensions are so applicable when studying Thailand.