Cultural intelligence research: where to from here?

Since the introduction of the cultural intelligence construct nearly 20 years ago, interest in it has steadily increased, as our understanding of it and its relationship with other important variables and constructs continues to develop. As the number of studies on cultural intelligence grows, there is a need for more frequent analyses and reflection to prevent this research space from becoming fragmented and difficult to navigate. Equally important are specific and relevant avenues for future research to guide scholars in directions that will expand and clarify accumulated knowledge. In this chapter, we provide such avenues and outline the associated research questions. In particular, we recommend that theoretical foundations, levels of analysis, and contextual features be considered when examining cultural intelligence. We also suggest that there be further clarity on how cultural intelligence is developed and utilized, and we provide recommendations related to sampling and research design.