Lost in Translation? Assessing the Intercultural Sensitivity Levels of Planners in the Dallas- Fort Worth Area

Author

Eihua Corinne Olivia Shaw

Graduation Semester and Year

2019

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Public Policy

Department

City and Regional Planning

First Advisor

Jianling Li

Abstract

The inclusion of minorities in the public participation process is one of the greatest challenges within the field of planning. However, the political structures around public participation make it difficult for practitioners to respond to the challenges and needs of an increasing number of cultural minority groups in urban regions. Scholars have advised planners to be more sensitive to the needs of minorities, but there are no tools in the planning field to evaluate cultural sensitivity in practice. This dissertation examines public participation related to intercultural sensitivity. In particular, this research adds to a better understanding of the role of planners and the role of intercultural sensitivity in public participation. The research draws on data from multiple methods including the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS), a demographic questionnaire, and four semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest that planners have high levels of intercultural sensitivity and are sensitive to the needs of socio-cultural and economic minorities, but the political structures of the planning process often pose constraints around which planners must adapt. This research contributes to understanding of public participation and provides recommendations for improving public participation. It suggests the use of the ISS as a benchmark tool to measure intercultural sensitivity in the planning field. Furthermore, the planners’ discourse on public participation, intercultural sensitivity, and inclusivity helps illustrate challenges provides new approaches to pursuing this issue across the United States.

Keywords

Intercultural sensitivity, Urban planning

Disciplines

Architecture | Urban, Community and Regional Planning

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

Recommended Citation

Shaw, Eihua Corinne Olivia, "Lost in Translation? Assessing the Intercultural Sensitivity Levels of Planners in the Dallas- Fort Worth Area" (2019). Planning Dissertations. 58.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/planning_dissertations/58