Intercultural Sensitivity of the Finnish Ninth Graders

Abstract

The research problem was to determine the levels of intercultural sensitivity behavior the 9th grade pupils exhibit in everyday school life. The quantitative study was made using questionnaires. The data is part of a large national sample (N = 1214) gathered by the Finnish National Board of Education in 2011. The data was analyzed statistically using SPSS. The developmental level of intercultural sensitivity of the 9th graders was mainly (39.5%) at the ethnorelativistic level. There were no significant differences between girls and boys. The meaning of arts education in the development of intercultural sensitivity is also discussed.