The Value of Exposure: The Connection Between International Contact, Ethnocentrism, and Intercultural Sensitivity

Abstract

As higher education continues on the path of globalization, a persistent focus is placed on creating internationally competent professionals. The most prominent method used to achieve this is through the internationalization of curriculums on college campus. Through this, students have various options to engage in intercultural contacts while they pursue a degree. This study examined the effect of intercultural contact offered on campus on the levels of ethnocentrism and intercultural sensitivity among college students at ECU using the generalized ethnocentrism scale (GENE) created by James McCroskey and James W. Neuliep (1997) as well as the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS) developed by Guo-Ming Chen and William J. Starosta (2000). Additionally, this study examined the association between students' level of ethnocentrism, intercultural sensitivity, and their willingness to interact with international students on campus through a series of hypothetical situations. A total of 310 seniors at ECU, 21.6% being male, 72.9% being female, participated in a survey distributed online, which examined students' ethnocentrism, intercultural sensitivity, and willingness to interact in relation to their participation in five intercultural contact programs: Global Understanding courses, language acquisition, study abroad, the First Friends program, and clubs and activities. Results yielded that there is little correlation between international contact and ethnocentrism or intercultural sensitivity. However, there is significant correlation between levels of ethnocentrism, intercultural sensitivity and a student's willingness to interact.