Validation of intercultural sensitivity and respect for diversity scale (RDS) in a Korean sample

ABSTRACT

Intercultural sensitivity is the affective dimension of intercultural competence. Recently, the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS) was validated for Korean samples, which raised conceptual, translational, and metrological problems. This study improved on the previous ISS Korean version, developed the Respect for Diversity Scale (RDS), and reanalysed the results according to gender and school level. The sample comprised 542 native Korean-speaking high school and college students. Both scales confirmed the validity of 12 items across four dimensions. Notably, the mean ISS scores exceeded those of the RDS across most factors. Gender differences exhibited significance in the scores of both scales, while school-level differences did not prove significant. This study contributes to the literature that has adapted and validated the ISS with participants from non-English-speaking cultures. Additionally, it sheds light on the relationship between the ISS and measures of general diversity appreciation, highlighting variations based on participants’ background characteristics.

KEYWORDS:

• Intercultural sensitivity scale (ISS)
• respect for diversity scale (RDS)
• gender difference
• school level difference

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Inha University.

Notes on contributors

Sungmin Chang

Sungmin Chang is currently a professor at the Department of Korean Language Education and Multicultural Education at the Graduate School of Inha University in the Republic of Korea. His main research topics are mother tongue (L1) literacy education and teacher education.