Table of Contents
The Acculturation Index (AI) is a 21-item self-report measure that assesses an individual’s acculturation orientation. The AI was developed by Colleen Ward and Allen Rana-Deuba (1999). The AI consists of two subscales: Heritage Acculturation and Host Acculturation. Heritage Acculturation measures the extent to which an individual maintains their heritage culture, while Host Acculturation measures the extent to which an individual adopts the host culture. The AI has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of acculturation orientation, and it has been used in a variety of research studies on acculturation and adaptation.
Introduction
Acculturation is the process by which individuals and groups adapt to a new culture. This process can be complex and challenging, and it can have a significant impact on an individual’s psychological and sociocultural well-being. There are a number of different models of acculturation, each of which emphasizes different aspects of the process. One of the most widely used models is the acculturation framework of John Berry (1997). Berry’s model identifies four different acculturation strategies: integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization. Integration is a bicultural strategy in which an individual maintains their heritage culture while also adopting the host culture. Assimilation is a unicultural strategy in which an individual abandons their heritage culture and fully adopts the host culture. Separation is a unicultural strategy in which an individual maintains their heritage culture and rejects the host culture. Marginalization is a unicultural strategy in which an individual rejects both their heritage culture and the host culture.
The Acculturation Index
The Acculturation Index (AI) is a 21-item self-report measure that assesses an individual’s acculturation orientation. The AI was developed by Colleen Ward and Allen Rana-Deuba (1999). The AI consists of two subscales: Heritage Acculturation and Host Acculturation. Heritage Acculturation measures the extent to which an individual maintains their heritage culture, while Host Acculturation measures the extent to which an individual adopts the host culture. The AI has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of acculturation orientation, and it has been used in a variety of research studies on acculturation and adaptation.
Psychometric Properties of the AI
The AI has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of acculturation orientation. The AI has good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from .70 to .80. The AI has also been shown to be stable over time, with test-retest correlations ranging from .70 to .80. The AI has been cross-validated on a number of different ethnic groups, and it has been shown to be a valid measure of acculturation orientation across different cultures.
Use of the AI in Research
The AI has been used in a variety of research studies on acculturation and adaptation. The AI has been used to study the relationship between acculturation and a variety of psychological outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. The AI has also been used to study the relationship between acculturation and sociocultural outcomes, such as social support, discrimination, and language proficiency.
Conclusion
The Acculturation Index (AI) is a reliable and valid measure of acculturation orientation. The AI has been used in a variety of research studies on acculturation and adaptation. The AI is a valuable tool for researchers who are interested in studying the process of acculturation.
References
Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46(1), 5-34.
Ward, C., & Rana-Deuba, A. (1999). Acculturation and adaptation revisited. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 30(4), 422-442.
The Acculturation Index Items
Acculturation Index (AI)
Ward‚ C.‚ & Kennedy‚ A. (1994). Acculturation strategies‚ psychological adjustment‚ and sociocultural competence during cross-cultural transitions. International Journal of Intercultural Relations‚ 18(3)‚ 329-343.
Ward‚ C. (1999). Models and measurement of acculturation. In W. I. Lonner‚ D.L. Dinner‚ D.K. Forgays‚ and H. A. Hayes (Eds.)‚ Merging past‚ present‚ and future in cross-cultural psychology (pp. 221-230). Netherlands: Swets and Zeitlinger Publishers.
Ward‚ C.‚ & Rana-Deuba‚ R. (1999). Acculturation and adaptation revisited. Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology. 30‚ 422-442.
Wang‚ Wei-hsuan. (2009). Chinese international students’ cross-cultural adjustment in the U.S.: the roles of acculturation strategies‚ self-construals‚ perceived cultural distance‚ and English self-confidence. University of Texas at Austin. PhD Dissertation.