Aiming at pooling the opinions of internationally and nationally known intercultural experts on the status and conceptualization of intercultural communication studies in China, this research project adopted a Delphi process. Exploratory questionnaires were sent to an identified set of experts (N = 45) via email for the first stage, responses (N = 34) compiled, evaluated, and questions edited; a more focused questionnaire redistributed to experts for the second stage (N = 20); and a summary of findings was checked and confirmed for the third stage (N = 15). Themes and theoretical issues were formulated through each stage, compiled, and where possible integrated. This research process has generated the following findings: (1) leading topics related to intercultural communication are identified; (2) major research methodologies adopted in each related field are examined; (3) highly cited authors and theories most applied in intercultural communication studies are ranked; (4) emerging trends in the field are listed; and (5) assessments and recommendations for the ongoing development, significance, and relevance of intercultural communication studies in the Chinese context are highlighted. Strengths and weaknesses of the results and this study are then noted toward future development of the field.
Challenges of intercultural communication studies at the beginning of 21st century
