Developing A Needs Assessment Model For Intercultural Communication Training

Needs assessment is not as frequently discussed in the intercultural communication training literature as it should be. It is therefore the purpose of this study to 1)Develop a needs assessment model for implementation in all kinds of intercultural communication training based on the summary and analysis of literature review; 2) Test and refine the practical idea model by getting feedback from intercultural communication trainers/trainees, training providers and professionals engaged in needs assessment.It is expected that the model developed in this study can serve as a reference for experts and professionals involved in intercultural communication and thus facilitate the implementation of intercultural communication trainings and enhance the effectiveness of training results.I first reviewed the diverse nature of intercultural communication training and then turned to the general literature on training for guidance. Throughout the literature on needs assessment, four phases are identified and discussed. These salient concepts comprise a practical ideal model for assessing intercultural communication training needs and include preparation, defining the scope of an intercultural communication training needs assessment, data collection and analysis, as well as utilization of needs assessment findings and training program design.In this research, both survey questionnaires and interview questions are used to gauge the appropriateness and usefulness of the practical ideal model for needs assessment in intercultural communication training, and to get feedback on the model from intercultural communication training providers and professionals engaged in needs assessment. The survey sample included 90 people who either have experience in delivering an intercultural communication training course or in participating in a training course of its kind. The final valid feedbacks of questionnaires were 84. Structured interviews are conducted to allow for cross-validation of the survey results by asking two questions: 1) Does the proposed needs assessment model include all the necessary components? 2) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the needs assessment model?Although the findings of the survey and interview did not yield much flaw of the model, respondents contributed plenty of constructive suggestion to improve the model in terms of wording and inclusiveness. Meanwhile, the significance of taking needs assessment was widely recognized, yet the practitioner tend to simplify the work due to the limitation of time, fund and human resource during the actual implementation. Thus, training providers and trainers that engaged in needs assessment are encouraged to make more commitment to this kind of research by allocating more resource, time and attention. Any further suggestion on the refinement of this model is appreciated.