| This dissertation investigated the effects of 18 months of doctoral studies, including an international experience, on the intercultural competence levels of doctoral students majoring in organizational leadership. The sample was composed of two separate cohorts of students pursuing their Ed.D. at two Pepperdine University satellite campus locations. The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), a survey assessment designed to quantitatively measure intercultural sensitivity, was administered to the sample through a repeated measures design. The pretest (T1) data were gathered as doctoral studies commenced for the sample, at the posttest (T2) shortly upon returning from the international experience in China or Mexico, and at the post-posttest (T3) approximately six months later. This is the first study that examines correlations between doctoral studies and intercultural competence for students pursuing the Ed.D. in organizational leadership.;This study examined the IDI individual and group profiles as well as reports from a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine whether trends over time were statistically significant. The alpha level for the analysis was set at alpha = .05. Differences were significant at the p < 0.05 level. The research found that the cohorts experienced a decrease in intercultural sensitivity between T1 and T2 that was significant over time. Though there was a slight increase in the quantitative scores between T2 and T3, the increase was not statistically significant. Although there was a significant decrease in the quantitative score over time, the samples remained classified in the same scale (one indicating the minimization of difference) during each test.;The conclusions and recommendations for further research address the potential correlation between stress and decreased intercultural sensitivity, the short length of the international study-abroad experience, the lack of a formal intercultural training program, and the religious affiliation of the university. The implications for leaders and organizations include a recognition of the significance of analyzing the intercultural dynamics of group and organizational behavior. |
