This study examined the belief in a Protestant work ethic in Australia and Sri Lanka. Australians are identified as individualistic and are expected to have a strong belief in a work ethic. Sri Lanka, a developing country, is largely collectivistic and economically depressed. On the basis of existing evidence concerning achievement motivation (McClelland's 1961 thesis), Sri Lankans' belief in a work ethic should be low. Recent evidence, however, suggests otherwise. The results of this study indicate that Sri Lankan university students have as strong a belief in a work ethic as Australians have, when work ethic is defined as a belief that hard work will lead to success. When work ethic is defined as a need for mastery, however, Sri Lankans seem less committed. This finding suggests the need to redefine the concept of work ethic to reflect differences in beliefs in varying cultures. It also alerts researchers comparing different cultures to the problems of transportability of concepts and scales.
