From 2008 to the current semester, I have used the Intercultural Development Inventory (Hammer, 2004) to collect data at the beginning and at the end of each semester in the Human Relations course. My study, “change in cultural competency among undergraduate students after an intentional human relations experience” was approved by the MSU Institutional Review Board (Log # 5691).
This applied research examines the effectiveness of active learning strategies in a Human Relations course on the cultural competency of undergraduate students. The studies consider the possibility that instructional strategies may have contributed to changes in the students’ intercultural competency. Subjects in this course are from a variety of academic majors, such as elementary education, sports management, social work, mass communications, journalism, and pre-professional studies (e.g., mortuary science, veterinary medicine, physical therapy).
The IDI is completed by subjects at the beginning of the semester and at the conclusion of the semester. Data is analyzed to identify the cultural orientation of each student and the changes that occurred over time. Data analysis suggests that certain specific learning experiences in the course may be catalysts for improvement in cultural sensitivity. Reports summarize several valuable learning experiences and exercises that may be adapted for many different disciplines.
I received a Faculty Research Grant to use from 2011 to 2013. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in cultural competency among Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) undergraduate students who participated in an intentional, multicultural relations experience in the course, Human Relations in a Multicultural Society (EEC222w), redesigned for the academic year 2011 – 2013. The study responded to these questions:
- What are the cultural orientations of students who register for an undergraduate general education course in human relations in multi-cultural environments? Are the cultural orientations (perceived and developmental) statistically the same for students at the beginning of each semester?
- What were the differences in changes occurring in undergraduate students’ cultural competency after participating in intentional, multicultural human relations experiences?
Here is the Final Report of this grant-funded project.
Here is the Cultural Competency article that I submitted to the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Here is a new grant application related to this project.