Reflections on Culture
My PhD research focuses on a comparative study across three different countries; Scotland, Denmark, and The United Arab Emirates. It will explore broader equity goals for neurodivergent children and young people.
As I think about these different cultures and my own experience with them, I was drawn to a recent research article discussing the development and validation of the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Scale, thinking about our capability to adapt to others and adjust to an environment.
Three positions of individual intelligence have been identified by Sternberg and Detterman’s work in 1986, and Earley and Ang in 2003. These three positions have direct relevance to human interaction; mental (metacognition and cognition), motivational and behavioural.
Metacognitive CQ is an individual's cultural consciousness and awareness during interactions with those from different cultural backgrounds.
It promotes active thinking about people and situations when cultural backgrounds differ. Secondly, it triggers critical thinking about habits, assumptions, and culturally bound thinking. Finally, it allows individuals to evaluate the way they see things and increases the accuracy of their understanding.
Cognitive CQ is an individual’s cultural knowledge of norms, practices, and conventions in different cultural settings.
It indicates knowledge of cultural universals as well as knowledge of cultural differences. Knowledge about cultural similarities and differences is the foundation of decision-making and performance in cross-cultural situations.
Motivational CQ is an individual’s capability to direct attention and energy towards cultural differences.
It is a special form of self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation in cross-cultural situations. Self-efficacy refers to the set of beliefs we hold about our ability to complete a task. It plays an important role in Cultural Intelligence because successful intercultural interaction requires a basic sense of confidence and interest in particular settings.
Behavioural CQ is an individual’s capability to display appropriate verbal and nonverbal actions when interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Behaviour CQ is often the most visible characteristic of social interactions. Our nonverbal behaviours are especially critical because they convey meaning in subtle and often silent ways.
In one of the studies, Business school undergraduates in Singapore voluntarily completed the 40-item initial CQ questionnaire (1=strongly disagree; 7=strongly agree) for partial fulfilment of course requirements (Figure 1.1). A further four studies were carried out with different variations of the sample. Given the self-report nature of the initial research that used the CQS, it was also important to consider the observer ratings of the CQ of others (Figure 2.2)
Figure 1.1 Cultural Intelligence
Scale (CQS) Self Report
Figure 2.2 Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) Observer Report
Copyright Cultural Intelligence Centre (2005)
As a result of the six studies, there were several important conclusions.
The scale provides important insights and personal information to individuals on their own CQ. Feedback and self-awareness are keys to enhancing intercultural effectiveness. Comparison of self-report with peer-report or supervisor-report scores should provide individuals with important insights into their personal capabilities for functioning in culturally diverse situations. It also provides a foundation for personal self-development.
Theoretical and practical implications warrant continued research on Cultural Intelligence. CQ has exciting implications for global leadership and the effectiveness of individuals in work and non-work international and domestic settings that are culturally diverse.
I am excited about how I could use this tool in my own research, particularly from a personal self-development tool and how I engage with others from different cultural backgrounds to my own.
Ang, S., Van Dyn, L., Koh, C., Ng, K., Templer, K.J., C., & Chandrasekar, N.A. (2007) Cultural Intelligence: Its measurement and effects on cultural judgment and decision making, cultural adaptation and task performance. Management and Organisation Review, 3, 335-337
Sternberg,R.J., & Detterman, D.J. (1986). What is intelligence? Contemporary viewpoints on its nature and definition Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
