Intercultural Development Inventory – Study in China 2009

Intercultural Development Inventory

Dr. John Brenner

Southwest Virginia Community

College

BIE-China Presentation April 25, 2009

Background Information

• Teach Sociology and am Global Education Coordinator at Southwest Virginia Community College

• Include the global perspective in the Principles of Sociology and Social Problems courses

Background Information• Associates degree from Parkland College

• Undergraduate degree in Education from University of Illinois

• Master’s of Asian Studies from University of Illinois with concentration in 20th China

• Doctorate from ETSU in Educational Leadership

Travel Information

• 1977—Fulbright Group Grant to India for 3 months to study art and religion of India

• 1978—Office of Education Group grant to West Africa to study drought, desertification and USAID assistance to drought victims…visited Senegal, Mali, Borkina Fasso and Ivory Coast

Travel Information

• 1981—England—two weeks

• 1987—Japan for two weeks with Honda Corporation

• 1998—China for two weeks—Beijing, Xian, Nanjing and Shanghai with the Friendship Force

• 2001—Faculty Exchange to England for two weeks--Winchester

Travel Information

• 2002-2004—Three trips to Russia as Grant Evaluator for SWCC’s New Independent States Grant with Ivanovo State Power University, Ivanovo, Russia

• 2005—Faculty Exchange with Stevenson College in Edinburgh, Scotland

• 2006—Visited colleges in Copenhagen, Denmark; Tunis,Tunisia; and Recife, Brazil

Travel Information

• Since 2006---I video conference with the school in Recife, Brazil on work, society, culture and current events

• I have also made several trips to Canada and Mexico in the past

Culture - Definition

• A comfortable term to people

• We all know it and feel we understand it• It is the way of life of a people (Ting-Toomey, 1999)

• It is the way people deal with their environment

Culture

• Ferrante (2008 p. 60) states that culture includes– Human-created strategies for adjusting to the

environment– It has clear boundaries– We tend to think in differences among people– We identify certain people within a culture– It exists within a society

Culture

• Trask and Hamon (2007-p. 4) state that culture has to be viewed in the context of family through a dynamic process passed from generation to generation

• Culture is a learned behavior that revolves around beliefs, practices, behaviors, symbols, attitudes of a particular group of people

Culture - Features

• Brislin (1993 p, 23) offers an extensive checklist of features of culture that include:– Ideals, values, and assumptions about life – Transmitted ideas that come from parents,

teachers, religious leaders and respected elders of a society

– Involves childhood experiences– Aspects rarely discussed by adults because it

is the accepted and shared concepts

Culture - Features

• Brislin continued…culture– Becomes clearest when there are clashes

between cultures– Allows people to explain events– Cultural values are seen as a constant– It allows for emotional reactions– There can be rebellions---as in the youth– Changes require time and can be difficult

Culture Competency

Defined as the… “ability learn from and relate respectfully to people of your own culture as well as people from other cultures” (Trask and Hamon, 2007 p. 128)

Cultural Competency

“Intercultural competence is a key goal of internationalization because it indicates an awareness and understanding of culturally diverse others and situations, as well as the presence of behaviors that promote productive and effective communication among and across cultures” (Emert and Pearson, 2007 p. 68)

Cultural Competency

“Global education programs that provide intercultural competence and knowledge, promote continued learning through both informal and formal means, and provide contested knowledge about the fate of a global perspective will enhance students’ ability to be both productive and responsible citizens of the world” (Zeszotarski, 2001 p. 76)

Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)

• 60 question survey taken online

• Developed by Hammer and Bennett that measures intercultural sensitivity

• Based on Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS)

• Understands the fundamental cognitive structures that act as orientations to cultural difference


• Assumes an individual’s world view goes from a scale of ethnocentric to ethnorelative

• “The underlying assumption of the model is that as one’s experience of cultural difference becomes more complex and sophisticated, one’s potential competence in intercultural relations increases” (Hammer, Bennett,

Wiseman, 2003. p. 423)


The first three dimensions of the DMIS are ethnocentric, meaning one’s culture is experienced as central to reality.

• Denial– one’s own culture is the only real one—others are seen as foreign or different

• Defense– one’s own culture is the only viable one-thus they are more threatened by difference—us against them attitude. Another form of this is:

• Reversal– the other culture is seen as superior to one’s own..it is still us vs them but the culture is not a threat


– Minimization– the view that one’s own cultural experience and that of others are similar

• The idea that all cultures are the same• Men are Men! Women are women! Anywhere• These people expect people to be similar as in

the idea of universals• They may insist that others correct their

behavior to match the perceived expectations• “Act like a man!”


The next three DMIS orientations are more ethno-relative, meaning one’s own culture is experienced in context with other cultures

Acceptance– people are seen as different but equally important—they see how culture differences operate in human interactions—they do not necessary agree/disagree but understand the differences


Adaptation– this orientation means that the individual can shift his or her frame of reference to the individual culture—the person has developed empathy

Integration– here the orientation is such that one can move in and out of different cultural worldviews—perhaps held by the “global nomads” or long-term expatriates (Hammer, Bennett and Wiseman, 2003. p. 425).

Results of the IDI Profile

Ethnocentrism Ethnorelativism

Denial Defense

Reversal

Minimization Acceptance Adaptation Integration

DIMENSIONS

IDI Profile for Intercultural Sensitivity

IDI Profile for Intercultural Sensitivity

Ethnocentrism Ethnorelativism

SCALES

Denial/Defense (DD)

or Reversal (R)

Minimization (M) Acceptance/

Adaptation (AA)

Encapsulated Marginality (EM)

Finding:

The larger the gap between the Perceived Score (PS) and the Developmental Score (DS), the greater the need for the development of intercultural sensitivity. Non-Students scores have a 24.59 difference:

PS Score

124.10

DS Score

95.51

• The non-students perceived themselves to be at 124.10 which means they are in the acceptance/adaptation mode that has a mid-range of 130.

• Their over all developmental intercultural sensitivity score was at 99.51 which is at the mid-range of minimization (100).

• The intercultural development is needed to fill in that difference of 24.59.

Finding:

The larger the gap between the Perceived Score (PS) and the Developmental Score (DS), the greater the need for the development of intercultural sensitivity. Students scores have a 29.28 difference:

PS Score

121.8

DS Score

91.90

• The students perceived themselves to be at 121.18 which means they are in the acceptance/adaptation mode that has a mid-range of 130.

• Their over all developmental intercultural sensitivity score was at 91.90 which is at the mid-range of minimization (100).

• The intercultural development is needed to fill in that difference of 29.28

Intercultural Sensitivity

• For both of the groups the numbers indicate a difference between the perceived sensitivity and actual sensitivity.

• Both groups are in the Minimization range which means they have resolved denial/defense or reversal aspects.

• The IDI would indicate that each group is in-transition in the minimization range.

…indicating that the person was notably In Transition in its Minimization worldview.

Unresolved In transition Resolved

M Scale

1.0 2.40-2.79

Minimization

• There is no class in the United States• “All the race that matters is the human race!”• “Customs differ, of course, but when you really get to know them

they’re pretty much like us.”• “I have this intuitive sense of other people, no matter what their

culture.”• “If people are really honest, they’ll recognize that some values are

universal”.• “Technology is bringing cultural uniformity to the developed world”.• “It’s a small world, after all”.

– Bennett, J.M. & Bennett, M. J. 2004 Developing Intercultural Competence: A Reader. www.intercultural.org

Findings:M Scale Group Profile

• A profile in the “unresolved” third of the scale indicates that the group members’ experience of other cultures is heavily oriented toward underlying commonality.

• The profile suggests 1. you may have a strong commitment to the idea that people from

other cultures are basically “like us” or that people of other cultures should share the same set of “universal” values you have

2. you may have difficulties in identifying important cultural differences that influence intercultural relations3. you need to resolve these issues before you can exercise your greatest potential of intercultural competence (Bennett & Bennett, 2002)

Minimization

• American Cultural Patterns Matt Christensen, 2008

– American’s feeling of dominance– Feeling superior to other countries and

cultures– Wanting to be the “best”– We will help other nations whether they want

it or not– Individually—dominate others/teams/politics– This can be seen as arrogance

Minimization

• Values Americans Live By L. Robert Kohls

• He lists 13 values—he notes that Americans believe they have only been slightly influence by family, church and schools

• They assume they have personally chosen their own values to live by

• The values of Americans would be sharply different than those of people from other countries and we are only 5% of the World.

Minimization

• 1. Personal control over the environment—not fatalistic and believe all things are achievable

• 2. Change—seen as a good condition, linked to improvement, development and progress—many other cultures view it as something to avoid at all costs

• 3. Time and its control—it is of the utmost importance..language is filled with references to time, rude to be late and no one should “waste” it

Minimization

• 4. Equality/egalitarianism…most cherished of American values. To 7/8ths of the rest of the world status, rank and authority are more desirable. We treat high level people with no deference and low status people highly

• 5. Individual and privacy—the individual is completely marvelous and unique. Privacy does not even exist as a word in some languages. Americans claim individualism but will almost always vote one of the two major political parties

Minimization

• 6. Selp-Help Control. Americans get no credit for being born into a rich family. We should be born poor and rise up on our own. Over 100 words in the dictionary described as self as in self-reliance, self-denial…many of these words are not in other languages

• 7. Competition and free enterprise..competition brings out the best in a person. Peace Corp workers find it hard to teach in societies that are not competition based in the classrooms

Minimization

• 8. Future orientation. a happy present time goes unnoticed. We are always focused on a better future. For a Moslem talking about the future is seen as futile and sinful

• 9. Action/work orientation. “Don’t just stand there, do something”. Action is superior to inaction and it is sinful to “waste time” to “daydream” or “sit around doing nothing”

Minimization

• 10. Informality. Seen as being informal to the point of being disrespectful to those in authority—the “hi” or “How are you?” Greeting

• 11. Directness, openness and honesty. If you come from a society that uses indirect methods to convey bad news then you will be shocked by Americans bluntness. Americans consider anything not direct as being dishonest and insincere

Minimization

• 12. Practicality and efficiency. Americans are viewed as extremely practical, realistic and efficient while priding themselves in not being very philosophically or theoretically oriented..if they had any it would be pragmatism

• 13. Materialism. Foreigners consider Americans much more materialistic than they think they are…we have material objects and periodically get rid of them to get new more efficient ones

Future Study

• The IDI instrument lends itself to a pre- and post-intervention study.

• The post test will indicate movement or non-movement in the cultural sensitivity ranges.

• Quantitative data would help validate the findings using pre/post data.

References

Brislin, R. (1993). Understanding culture’s influence on behavior. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Emert, H. A., & Pearson, D. L. (2007). Expanding the vision of international education: Collaboration, assessment, and intercultural development. New Directions for Community Colleges, 138, 67-75.

Floyd, D. L., Walker, D. A., & Farnsworth, K. (2003, Fall). Global education: An emerging imperative for community colleges. International Education, 33(1), 5-21.

Green, M. F. (2007). Internationalizing community colleges: Barriers and strategies. New Directions for Community Colleges, 138, 15-24.

Hammer, M., & Bennett, M. (1998). The intercultural development manual. Portland: The Intercultural Communication Institute.

Hammer, M. R., Bennett, M. J., & Wiseman, R. (2007). Measuring intercultural sensitivity: The intercultural development inventory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27, 421-443.

Raby, R. L. (2007). Internationalizing the curriculum: On- and off-campus strategies. New Directions for Community Colleges, 138, 57-66.

Sherif-Trask, B., & Hamon, R. R. (2007). Cultural diversity and families. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating across cultures. New York: The Guilford Press.

Zeszotarski, P. (2001). Eric Review: Issues in global education initiatives in the community college. Community College Review, 29(1), 65-77.

References

• Kohls, L. R. The values americans live by. The Washington International Center. Washingston, D.C. http://web1.msue.msu.edu/intext/global/americanvalues.pdf

• Body ritual among the nacirema https://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html• Christenson, Matt. American Cultural Pattes Ezine articles

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/intext/global/americanvalues.pdf

https://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html

China

• Review the history of China from “Culture Smart”

• Pay close attention to the achievements of the Tang Dynasty

• Note the last dynasty Ch’ing or Manchu which ended in 1911

China

• Note that China suffered Civil War and major attacks from the Japanese in the first half of the 20th Century

• The Civil War was between Chiang Kai-shek of the Koumingtang Party (KMT) who was supported by the USA

• Mao Zedong lead the peasant movement of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supported by USSR

China

• October 1, 1949 China is declared the People’s Republic of China (PRC)

• Tremendous growth in China due to peace

• Mao distributed the land to the peasants based on a new analysis of social worth

• In 1955, he communalized the countryside effectively taking away private property

China

• In 1959, Mao began the Great Leap Forward, for two years the people worked double time to increase steel output

• Poor planning and famine stopped this effectively putting Mao into the background of authority in society

China

• Great Cultural Revolution 1966-1976– Mao wanted all parts of society to be equal– He did not care that his plan would disrupt

growth in China– He encouraged the youth (Red Guards) to

attack old ideas, old thoughts and old values– This effectively shut down China, most

colleges were closed

China

• There was a great deal of personal suffering of people during the Cultural Revolution

• After Mao died, Deng Xiao Ping becomes the new leader in 1977—a pragmatist who encouraged market incentives, foreign trade and new “Open Door Policy” to put China back into the global market place

China

• Since 1979 the Chinese economy has doubled about every 7 and half years

• A set-back was the Tiananmen Square event of June 1989

• China has made tremendous advancements– Olympics of 2008– World Trade Organization 2001– Support of the US led antiterrorism campaign

Some Current Chinese Issues

• China and the Internet– 290 million users – 70% are under the age of 30– Chinese spend a great deal of their leisure

time on the net– They have started addiction schools for

young people who are addicted to the net..probably about 13% of the college students spend over 6 hours on the net

– In the USA only about 8% of students do that


• The most likely addicted are– 15-21 year olds– They like the games Counterstrike and World

of Warcraft


• Charter ’08– A charter modeled after the Czechoslovakia’s

“Charter 77” – Calls for Human Rights and more democracy

in China– The Charter has had a lot of names added to

it when it was posted on the net– The government has jailed the creator of it


• China re-instated tax rebates for exporters of motorcycles, sewing machines, industrial robots and others

• Chinese exports fell 2.2% starting in November 2008

• Centers of light manufacturing like Ningbo and Dongguan have lost 100,000 jobs in 2008


• A current books states the big stories for 2008 were Sichuan earthquake, crackdown on riots in Tibet and crackdowns on democracy

• Chinese did not like the French hurting their Olympic torchbearer and the French President Sarkozy meeting with the Dalai Lama


• Another story that has not been widely circulated is the re-discovery of Confucius

• President Hu Jintao is encouraging a “harmonious society” that is an emphasis on social harmony and social welfare

• This has led to an emphasis on Confucius • Confucius Institutes have developed and

temples restored• The Olympic flame when through Qufu the

hometown of Confucius


• December 1978—the CCP began the “reform and opening” of China since then– Now pragmatism guides the government not

ideology– Pulled 600 million people out of poverty– It has stifled social solidarity—City workers

make 5 times the country folks and infant mortality is 7 times higher among the poor

– Still 160 million live on a dollar a day


• Many enjoy a life of personal choices—new mobile phones or buying a car

• China can provide everyone with enough to eat and clothes now it has to develop the person

• CCP still has a strong grip on the political power of the country

Some Current Chinese Issues• Some dates:• 1978—Party reforms and farmers get ownership of their product for

1st time.• 1980—City of Shenzhen is “special economic zone”—flexible

market• 1990—Shanghai Stock Exchange opens• 1996—the yuan is allowed to be convertible---allows free flow of

import/exports• 2001—China joins World Trade Organization• 2002—Chinese Communist Party allows entrepreneurs to join party• 2005—China becomes world’s 4th largest economy• 2006—Foreign currency reserves top $1 trillion (world’s biggest)• 2008—Global financial crisis hits Chinese exports—stimulus

package needed


• Chinese families save about 30% of their income due to weak social security net—paying for hospitals and children’s education

• Fewer than 10% of the Chinese borrow money to buy a car

• Government has a stimulus package to build roads and infrastructure

• Chinese are purchasing less due to lack of confidence in the economy


• 6.1 million college grads will flood the market this spring

• Last year 27% of the college grads could not find jobs

• College education has expanded from 3% of college aged in 1980 to 20% today

• Students used to want 5,000 yuan a month ($735) now will take 3,000 to 1,700 yuan ($440-250) for a job in Beijing


More to come!!!

Documents

Intercultural Development Inventory – Study in China 2009