Evidence of the cross-cultural validity and practical impact of the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®) is found in the remarkably strong support given from a wide-range of external, third-party, prestigious associations, journals/books, and cross-cultural, professional organizations. Here are some endorsements that are particularly compelling:
The American Council of Education (ACE) is the most visible and influential association of higher education in the United States. ACE represents presidents of 1,800 colleges and universities. ACE brings together experts from all sectors in the country to address some of the most difficult challenges facing higher education. In 2003, ACE convened a working group on intercultural learning whose goal was to identify an assessment that provides direct evidence of student’s knowledge and skills that also addresses complex learning rather than more surface learning outcomes. In researching 20 assessment instruments, ACE concluded by recommending the IDI as one of only two tools that meets their rigorous review process.
In 2009, SIETAR Europa (Society for Education, Training and Research), surveyed its membership to identify which cross-cultural assessment instruments are mostly widely accepted and used by cross-cultural professionals. The IDI was identified as the most widely used assessment tool used by professionals in the intercultural field.
In 2012, M. Vande Berg, R.M. Paige, and K. Lou edited the influential book, Student learning abroad: What our students, what they’re not, and what we can do about it (Sterling, VA: Stylus). In this book, extensive research and specific case studies are presented that demonstrate student development of intercultural competence based on the use of the IDI. This book presents compelling evidence of the strong impact that IDI Guided Development™ has in building students’, mentors’, and faculty members’ intercultural competence.
Over 66 Ph.D. dissertations have been completed using the IDI. This extensive use and acceptance of the IDI by Ph.D. faculty committees attest to wide-spread agreement concerning the cross-cultural validity of the IDI for use in Ph.D.-level research.
Two important reviews of the IDI along with other cross-cultural assessment instruments have been undertaken. Both reviews present favorable evidence regarding the rigorous cross-cultural validity, reliability and generalizability of the IDI. These reviews are:
- Paige, R.M. (2004). Instrumentation in Intercultural Training. In D. Landis, J.M. Benett & M.J. Bennett (Editors). Handbook of intercultural training (3rd edition) (85-128). Thousand Oaks: CA. Sage.
- Stuart, D. (2009). Assessment instruments for the global workforce. In M.A. Moodian (Editor). Contemporary leadership and intercultural competence (175-190). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
