Applying the developmental model of intercultural sensitivity to measure student growth after an on-campus intervention in Japan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/bevp8142Keywords:
DMIS, intercultural competence, international students, comparative education, international education, higher education, study abroad, foreign studentsAbstract
This study sought to determine whether the DMIS could be used to measure on-campus intervention efforts among Japanese university EFL students regarding IS. The literature review explains IC measurement in overseas study programs and local educational interventions, summarizes the diagnosis of the six stages of the DMIS, and explores its use in IS measurement studies. A hybrid approach of content and thematic qualitative analysis of reflective writings was used to determine how students in two intercultural communication courses developed along the stages of the DMIS. The study revealed that participants demonstrated personal growth in intercultural awareness, that their self-reflections hinted at the stages of the DMIS, and that they were generally accurate in their self-assessment.
References
ACTFL. (2025). NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do statements. https://www.actfl.org/uploads/files/general/Resources-Publications/Intercultural-Can-Dos_Reflections-Scenarios.pdf
Adler, P. (1977). Beyond cultural identity: Reflections upon cultural and multicultural man. In R. W. Brislin (Ed.), Culture learning: Concepts, applications, and research (pp. 24–41). University of Hawaii Press.
Bailey, T. W., & Tanoos, J. J. (2025). Post-pandemic intercultural development trends among American undergraduate students. Journal of International Students, 15(6), 59-82. https://doi.org/10.32674/ka1man91 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/ka1man91
Barrett, M. D., Huber, J., & Reynolds, C. (2014). Developing intercultural competence through education. Council of Europe.
Beltrán-Véliz, J. C., Gálvez-Nieto, J. L., Klenner-Loebel, M., & Vera-Gajardo, N. (2024). Adaptation and validation of the Intercultural Effectiveness Scale in a sample of initial teacher training students in Chile. Behavioral Sciences, 14(10), 864. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100864 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100864
Bennett, M. (1986). A developmental approach to training for intercultural sensitivity. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 10(2), 179–195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(86)90005-2
Bennett, M. (1993). Toward ethnorelativism: A developmental model of intercultural sensitivity. In M. Paige (Ed.), Education for the intercultural experience (2nd ed., pp. 21–71). Intercultural Press.
Bennett, M. (2004). Becoming interculturally competent. In J. Wurzel (Ed.), Toward multiculturalism: A reader in multicultural education (2nd ed., pp. 62–77). Intercultural Resource Corporation.
Bennett, M. (2011). A developmental model of intercultural sensitivity. The Intercultural Development Research Institute. https://www.idrinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FILE_Documento_Bennett_DMIS_12pp_quotes_rev_2011.pdf
Bennett, M. (2017). Developmental model of intercultural sensitivity. In Y. Y. Kim (Ed.), The international encyclopedia of intercultural communication (pp. 1–10). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118783665.ieicc0182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118783665.ieicc0182
Byram, M., Barrett, M., Ipgrave, J., Jackson, R., & Méndez García, M. C. (2009). Autobiography of intercultural encounters. Council of Europe Publishing.
Carcausto-Calla, W., Cucho Leyva, M., Robles, N., Garcia, R., & Choqque, D. (2025). Improving intercultural competencies in high school students: An educational intervention in a Peruvian region. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 15(1), 308. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2025-0024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2025-0024
Carrica-Ochoa, S., & Brown, E. J. (2024). Latin American university exchange students’ experiences of intercultural sensitivity development: The role of emotions. Journal of International Students, 14(5), 85–107. https://doi.org/10.32674/pm1f2v34 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/pm1f2v34
Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1997). A review of the concept of intercultural sensitivity. Human Communication, 1, 1–16.
Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (2000). The development and validation of the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale. Human Communication, 3, 1–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/t61546-000
Cong-Lem, N. (2025). Intercultural communication in second/foreign language education over 67 years: A bibliometric review. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 54(1–2), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2025.2456265 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2025.2456265
Deardorff, D. K. (2006). Identification and assessment of intercultural competence as a student outcome of internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3), 241–266. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315306287002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315306287002
Etri, W. (2022). Employing Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) to understand intercultural sensitivity in ELT. World Journal of English Language, 13(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v13n1p39 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v13n1p39
Finnish National Agency for Education. (2025). National core curriculum for primary and lower secondary (basic) education. https://www.oph.fi/en/education-and-qualifications/national-core-curriculum-primary-and-lower-secondary-basic-education
Fuertes, J. N., Miville, M. L., Mohr, J. J., Sedlacek, W. E., & Gretchen, D. (2000). Factor structure and short form of the Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 33(3), 157–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2000.12068905 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2000.12069007
Gu, X., & Fu, L. (2025). Exploring intercultural competence among Chinese English majors in Thailand. International Journal of Sociologies and Anthropologies Science Reviews, 5, 777–788. https://doi.org/10.60027/ijsasr.2025.5435 DOI: https://doi.org/10.60027/ijsasr.2025.5435
Hammer, M. R., Bennett, M. J., & Wiseman, R. (2003). Measuring intercultural sensitivity: The Intercultural Development Inventory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27(4), 421–443. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(03)00032-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(03)00032-4
Hammer, M. R. (2009). The Intercultural Development Inventory. In M. A. Moodian (Ed.), Contemporary leadership and intercultural competence (Ch. 16, pp. 203–218). Sage. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452274942.n16
Hastowohadi, H., Marifatullloh, S., & Widiantari, M. M. (2025). Exploring intercultural competence: A case study of an Indonesian Muslim doctoral student in Australia. Journal of International Students, 15(3), 263–278. https://doi.org/10.32674/628yr447 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/628yr447
Huber, J. (Ed.). (2012). Intercultural competence for all: Preparation for living in a heterogeneous world. Council of Europe Publishing.
Kajiura, A., & Goodmacher, G. (2005). This is culture. Nan’un-do.
Lei, M., Wong, E., & Knowles, K. (2023). The potential of on-campus study to support students’ intercultural learning and development in higher education. International Journal of Educational Research, 118, 102152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2023.102152 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2023.102152
Lin, Q., & Fu, X. (2025). Exploring intercultural competence among students in Sino-foreign universities: A DMIS-based case study. International Journal of Science and Research, 14(4), 1015–1022. https://doi.org/10.21275/SR25412130120 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21275/SR25412130120
Lu, J., Guénier, A. D. W., & Hird, D. (2025). An empirical study on intercultural contact and intercultural communication competence of Chinese international students in the UK: A case study of Lancaster University. Journal of International Students, 15(2), 147–167. https://doi.org/10.32674/xtpdzb48 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/xtpdzb48
Manjarrés, B. N. (2009). Intercultural competence: Another challenge. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 11, 143–158.
Miville, M. L., Gelso, C. J., Pannu, R., Liu, W., Touradji, P., Holloway, P., & Fuertes, J. (1999). Appreciating similarities and valuing differences: The Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46(3), 291–307. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.46.3.291 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-0167.46.3.291
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). (n.d.). International education. https://www.mext.go.jp/en/policy/education/elsec/title02/detail02/1373861.htm
Ministry of Education (MOE) Singapore. (2020, October 22). Singapore students show strong intercultural communication skills & high ability to understand, act on global issues. https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/press-releases/20201022-singapore-students-show-strong-intercultural-communication-skills-and-high-ability-to-understand-act-on-global-issues
Oxford University Press (OUP). (2025). Parochialism. In Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/parochialism?q=parochialism
Rodríguez-Izquierdo, R.M. (2022). International experiences and the development of intercultural sensitivity among university students. Educación XX1, 25(1), 93-117. https://doi.org/10.5944/educXX1.30143 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5944/educxx1.30143
Ruiz-Bernardo, P., Ribés, A. S., Sánchez-Tarazaga, L., & Mateu-Pérez, R. (2024). Intercultural sensitivity and measurement instruments: A systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 102, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.102035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.102035
Schauer, G. (2020). Measuring intercultural competence. In P. Winke & T. Brunfaut (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and language testing (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351034784 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351034784-38
Sierra-Huedo, M. (S.), & Nevado, A. (2022). Promoting the development of intercultural competence in higher education through intercultural learning interventions. Revista Electrónica Educare, 26(2), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.15359/ree.26-2.28 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15359/ree.26-2.28
Sims, R., Tran, P. M., Banat, H., Panahi, P., & Dilger, B. (2025). Capturing nonlinear intercultural development via student reflective writing. Written Communication, 42(2), 371–404. https://doi.org/10.1177/07410883241303916 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/07410883241303916
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga Ministry of Education. (2024). Tāhūrangi – New Zealand curriculum. https://newzealandcurriculum.tahurangi.education.govt.nz/new-zealand-curriculum/5637175326.p
UNESCO. (2013). Intercultural competence: Conceptual and operational framework. UNESCO.
Vincent, P. (2017). Speaking of intercultural communication. Nan’un-do.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of International Students
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) [year] [author]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
