Social Intelligence and Communication Competence: Predictors of Students’ Intercultural Sensitivity

This study investigated the level of intercultural sensitivity of foreign international undergraduates and its possible predictors. Sample participants included 269 foreign international undergraduates of both government and private universities in Thailand. The research instrument was the three-page survey constructed questionnaire based on the combination of three self-evaluation scales- Chen and Starosta’s (2000) Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS), McCroskey and McCroskey’s (1988) Self-Perceived Communication Competence Scale (SPCC), and Silvera et al’s (2001) Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS). From the pilot test, the instrument’s internal consistency was .789. Data collected were analyzed by using Descriptive Statistics (SPSS for Windows), Pearson product-moment Correlations, Independent-sample t-test, F-test (ANOVA), and Multiple Regression Analysis. The findings showed that the average level of intercultural sensitivity of the participants was at a high level (X = 4.3) with nationality and intercultural experience as significant factors. It was also found that both self-perceived communication competence and social intelligence were statistically significant predictors of intercultural sensitivity.