Cultural Intelligence and Attitudes Towards Multicultural Education: Mediating Role of Intercultural Sensitivity

Abstract

Background/purpose. The study investigated the role of intercultural sensitivity as a mediator variable between cultural intelligence and attitudes towards multicultural education. Materials/methods. The design of the research was a predictive correlational study. A total of 287 preservice teachers (PSTs) from different departments at a state university participated in the study. Data were collected by means of a personal information form, the Cultural Intelligence scale, the Intercultural Sensitivity scale, and Attitudes Towards Multicultural Education scale. The theoretical model, created to reveal the mediating role of intercultural sensitivity in the relationship between cultural intelligence and the variable of attitude towards multicultural education, was tested with the help of path analysis. Results. Findings showed that while cultural intelligence significantly predicted attitudes towards multicultural education, when intercultural sensitivity was included in the model as a mediator variable, cultural intelligence did not significantly predict attitudes towards multicultural education. Conclusion. These results showed that the association between cultural intelligence and attitude towards multicultural education was fully mediated by intercultural sensitivity. This result highlights the importance of intercultural sensitivity in developing positive attitudes towards multicultural education.

Keywords

• cultural intelligence
• intercultural sensitivity
• mediator variable
• multicultural education