Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...

Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence
variance. However, for the moment, limitations of sample size, time constraints for performing
statistical analysis, and other considerations, necessitated focusing quantitative analyses primarily
on measuring the instrumentation, the underlying ICC concept through each of its four subcomponents
(namely, knowledge, attitude, skills, and awareness) and the multiple items within
each component (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Intercultural Competency and Components
Knowledge
In the 11 Tables that follow, the first 7 examine and assess the efficacy and validity of Part VII of
the test instrument regarding its ability to measure and monitor ICC. The remaining tables, 8
through 11, look at the “means” at the beginning and end of the service experience, i.e., the
efficacy and validity of assumptions made about ICC. To reiterate, these analyses are based only
on responses from British and Swiss alumni and do not include mentors or volunteers. In general,
an Alpha score (i.e., the measure of reliability) of 6.0 or above for any item (some might even say
5.0 or above) is considered a good score.
C. Reliability Testing
Intercultural Competency
(ICC)
Attitude Skills
Awareness
Cronbach Alphas were employed to test the reliability of inter-item consistency of the individual
items listed under the four ICC components. The resulting scores are reported in Tables 1 and 2
below, for beginning and end of service responses, respectively. It should be noted that reliability
and principal component analyses are both item-based, thus reducing any effect normally
imposed by small sample size.
Center for Social Development
Washington University in St. Louis
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