The effects of an intercultural communication workshop on participants’ intercultural communication competence: An exploratory study

It was the purpose of the present study to measure the effects of an intercultural communication workshop (ICW) on American participants’ intercultural communication competence. This study utilized the behavior observation methodology developed by Ruben (1976) with the contrast‐American simulation technique developed by Stewart (1966) to investigate intercultural communication competence development. Using a nonequivalent control group design, a structured communication event employing the contrast‐American technique was developed in which each subject discussed the topic of leadership communication with a contrast‐American at two intervals (pretest and posttest) and these interactions were videotaped. Two judges then viewed the videotaped interactions and rated the subjects’ intercultural communication competence using behavioral observation measures. The results suggest that (I) behavioral observation methodology can be reliably employed to assess intercultural communication competence and (2) the ICW did not significantly improve the American participants’ intercultural communication competence. These findings are discussed in terms of intercultural education/training and suggestions for future research on the ICW are presented.