| This study was interested in looking at the differences in effectiveness of two different training assimilators based on theory. Although there has been a great deal of research studying training versus no training as well as comparing different forms of training there has been little attempt to use theory to inform research. However, there has been a recent shift towards developing materials, such as culture assimilators, using theory as the basis for development. According to Bhawuk (2001), to develop a theory-based assimilator one needs a parsimonious theory of culture that can explain multiple aspects of cultural behavior. Examples of theories that might lend themselves to theory-based assimilators are Hofstede's (1980) dimensions of culture or Schwartz's (1992) universal structure of values. In the case of this research a prominent theory of communications, the Anxiety Uncertainty Management Theory (AUM, Gudykunst, 1995), and an important theory of culture, Individualism/Collectivism Theory (I/C, Triandis & Gelfand, 1998), were tested using a culture assimilator format to determine if there is a difference in areas of intercultural functioning that differing theories affect. Variables of interest included values, intercultural sensitivity, anxiety and uncertainty. It was hypothesized that as AUM theory specifically described anxiety and uncertainty management, participants who used this training should show reductions in anxiety and uncertainty. On the other hand, participants engaged in the I/C training should show increases in intercultural sensitivity due to the focus of the theory on improving empathy and understanding of different perspectives on self and other. A modified Solomon four-group design was used to control for possible testing effects of the pre/post test design. Then PCA was used to reduce the number of variables and finally, t-tests were employed to test the hypotheses regarding the training groups. Findings in this study were inconclusive, however, in determining if different theories affect different aspects of intercultural functioning. Although trends were in the right direction, there were no strongly significant results at which to point and say with certainty, yes that is so. However, the trends were telling even if not significant. |
