Assessing Communication Competency for Intercultural Adaptation

One of the recurrent problems associated with interpersonal, group, organizational, and intercultural training in communication is the as sessment of outcomes. An approach is suggested for the evaluation of training and selection of programs utilizing behavioral assessment of participants' communication competence. The method involves the sys tematic collection and analysis of behavioral observation data along one or several predetermined dimensions by one or more observers. Prelimi nary use of pilot instruments indicates that the methodology provides a relatively efficient technique for generating reliable assessments of interactive competence in a variety of social settings. A range of uses of behavioral assessment techniques in communication training are dis cussed, and an application in intercultural adaptation training and selection is explored in some detail.