Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...

Table 5: Factor Analysis for Skills
Skills
Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence
Center for Social Development
Washington University in St. Louis
Factor
Loadings
(Beginning of
Service)
Factor
Loadings
(End of
Service)
I demonstrated flexibility when interacting with persons from the host culture. 0.900 0.905
I adjusted my behavior, dress, etc as appropriate to avoid offending my host. 0.904 0.867
I was able to contrast the host culture with my own. 0.822 0.915
I used strategies for learning the host language and culture. 0.919 0.866
I demonstrated a capacity to interact appropriately in a variety of different social
situations.
0.961 0.912
I used appropriate strategies for adapting to host culture and reducing stress. 0.918 0.866
I used culture-specific information to improve my style and personal interaction. 0.873 0.704
I helped to resolve cross-cultural conflicts and misunderstandings when they
arose.
Note: Items 7, 8, and 11 in Part VII of the survey form are excluded
0.920 0.772
Table 6: Factor Analysis for Awareness
Awareness
Factor
Loadings
(Beginning of
Service)
Factor
Loadings
(End of
Service)
Aware of differences and similarities across my own culture and the host
language & culture.
0.923 0.865
Aware of how varied situations in the host culture required modifying my
interactions.
0.940 0.841
Aware of how host culture members viewed me and why. 0.892 0.715
Aware of myself as a culturally conditioned person with personal habits and
preferences.
0.891 0.952
Aware of diversity in the host culture (such as differences in race, gender age ). 0.950 0.845
Aware of the dangers of generalizing individual behaviors as representative of the
whole culture.
0.936 0.876
Aware of my choices and their consequences (which made me less or more
acceptable).
0.939 0.894
Aware of my personal values that affected my approach to ethical dilemmas and
their resolution.
0.932 0.789
Aware of my hosts’ reactions to me that reflected their cultural values. 0.968 0.892
Aware of how my values and ethics were reflected in specific situations. 0.972 0.887
Aware of varying cultural styles and language use, and their effect in social &
working situations.
0.968 0.759
Aware of my own level of intercultural development 0.949 0.896
Aware of the level of intercultural development of those I worked with 0.968 0.876
Aware of how I perceived myself as a communicator, facilitator, or mediator, in an
intercultural situation.
Note: Items 2,6,16, and 18 listed in Part VII of the survey form are excluded
0.867 0.718
Table 7 below shows the results of additional principal component analysis needed to assess if
these four components do indeed load onto the single construct defined in this study as
“intercultural competence.” All factor loadings turned out to be very strong, and therefore
indicate a strong association with the defined construct. (Tables 1 and 2 also provide the
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