Abstract
This is an accepted article with a DOI pre-assigned that is not yet published.
The use of qualitative method, e.g. field observation in natural settings and informal in-depth interviews, has long been considered a hallmark of European ethnology - just as participant observation has been named the primary method of social anthropology. This paper argues, however, that quantitative methods, including representative samples of whole populations and structured interview instruments, may be necessary for studies of national culture. This thesis is elaborated using cross-cultural data which have been gathered and analyzed in efforts to describe the national culture of Sweden.