skip to main content skip to footer

Assessing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Existing Research and Future Directions ICC

Author(s):
Griffith, Richard L.; Wolfeld, Leah; Armon, Brigitte K.; Rios, Joseph A.; Liu, Ou Lydia
Publication Year:
2016
Report Number:
RR-16-25
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
46
Subject/Key Words:
Intercultural Competence (ICC), Higher Education, Cultural Awareness, Validity Study, Global Awareness, Workforce Readiness, Global Market Economy, International Education, Social Processes

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new framework based on a model of the social thinking process developed by Grossman and colleagues that describes the knowledge, skills, and abilities that promote success in complex social situations. From this social process model, as well as Earley and Peterson's definition of ICC (a person's capability to gather, interpret, and act upon these radically different cues to function effectively across cultural settings or in a multicultural situation), three stages are developed: approach, analyze, and act. Guided by this framework, we discuss assessment considerations such as innovative task types and multiple response formats to help translate the framework to an assessment of ICC.

Read More