| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-7页 |
| 内容摘要 | 第7-9页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第9-12页 |
| ·Prologue to the study | 第9页 |
| ·Significance of the research | 第9-10页 |
| ·Research Objective | 第10-11页 |
| ·General organization | 第11-12页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第12-30页 |
| ·What is humor? | 第12-20页 |
| ·Birthplace of humor | 第12页 |
| ·Evolution of its meaning | 第12-14页 |
| ·Genres of humor | 第14-15页 |
| ·Humor's interpersonal and social function | 第15-16页 |
| ·Theories on humor | 第16-20页 |
| ·Theories on context | 第20-25页 |
| ·Context of situation, context of culture | 第20-21页 |
| ·Factors that constitute context | 第21-24页 |
| ·Objective factors | 第22-23页 |
| ·Subjective factors | 第23-24页 |
| ·Research orientations of context | 第24-25页 |
| ·Comparison between Chinese culture and Western culture | 第25-30页 |
| Chapter Three Methodology | 第30-35页 |
| ·Specific research questions/hypothesis | 第30页 |
| ·Survey study | 第30-35页 |
| ·Subjects | 第30-31页 |
| ·Instruments | 第31-33页 |
| ·Data-collection and data-analysis | 第33-35页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussions | 第35-53页 |
| ·Responses to the samples of humor | 第35-49页 |
| ·Responses to humor made by members of different cultures | 第35-47页 |
| ·Possible reasons that may account for the differences | 第36-46页 |
| ·Preference for the topics of humor | 第36-40页 |
| ·Vulgar humor or refined humor? | 第40-43页 |
| ·Who is supposed to be the joking object? | 第43-45页 |
| ·To arouse sympathy or to express self? | 第45-46页 |
| ·Common ground of members of different cultures | 第46-47页 |
| ·Responses to humor made by members of the same culture | 第47-49页 |
| ·Different tastes for the same humor | 第47-48页 |
| ·Similarities in the appreciation of humor | 第48-49页 |
| ·Understanding and transcending cultural differences | 第49-53页 |
| ·Chinese and Westerners' views on humor | 第50-51页 |
| ·Overcoming linguistic and cultural obstacles | 第51-53页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第53-57页 |
| ·Summary of the research findings | 第53-54页 |
| ·Implications | 第54-55页 |
| ·Limitations and future research | 第55-57页 |
| References | 第57-60页 |
| Appendix A: English version of the questionnaire | 第60-65页 |
| Appendix B: Chinese version of the questionnaire | 第65-68页 |
