The Short Form Cultural Intelligence Scale (SFCQ)

Abstract: Managing intercultural encounters is a key success factor in multicultural communities. The construct of cultural intelligence has been developed to examine individuals’ capabilities to effectively deal with cultural heterogeneity. The present study provides the validation of a German translation of the revised short scale for the assessment of cultural intelligence (SFCQ) based on a diverse sample of distance education students ( N = 526). The analyses confirmed the fit of a second-order factor model comprising one second-order factor (cultural intelligence) and three first-order factors (knowledge, metacognition, and skills). The scale demonstrated good psychometric properties and meaningful correlations with related constructs such as personality traits and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, the scale showed incremental validity as it predicted intercultural friendships and international mobility experiences above and beyond age, gender, personality trait, and emotional intelligence. These results support the validity of the German SFCQ and advocate for its application.