Program Reach
IC courses are tailored to local contexts, enabling schools, organizations, and communities around the world to address polarization, conflict, and division in ways that resonate locally
IC Courses have been delivered within:
- Schools, universities, and corporations
- Community and rehabilitation centres
- Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps
- One-to-one scaffolded conversations
Results and Metrics
IC course participants complete anonymous pre- and post-tests using a Paragraph Completion Test to evaluate course effectiveness.
- Pre-test results typically show low IC, with black-and-white thinking about ingroup vs. outgroup conflicts.
- Post-test results show significant IC gains, reflecting a shift beyond polarized thinking. This improvement is evident in both written and oral conditions, with the more spontaneous oral tests often revealing even higher IC scores.
According to 50 years of research using Suedfeld et al’s (1992) IC Coding Manual, such gains are linked to greater social harmony and reduced intergroup conflict. This trend is evidenced in our pre and post testing across cultures, with some local variations. For example, during COVID, IC scores about the ingroup were lower, but gains regarding the outgroup remained strong.
Control: Intervention studies confirm that post-test IC gains are attributable to the IC course itself, rather than random or situational factors.
Long-term effects: Longitudinal studies demonstrate sustained IC gains and positive behavioral change at 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, and 2 years. For details, see the publications list. Experimental studies (Baruch, 2024; Essman, 2025) further identify causal factors driving IC gains.Ongoing research ensures that every new IC course and project includes IC assessment and related measures.
Coming Next
A new online IC program is undergoing testing for IC gains and neuroscience measures. Using this along with elements of the ICT LMS (learning management system) and tried and tested digital learning IC Method material, three new online IC programs developed for organisations/clients are planned for professionals:
- Educators
- Corporations
- Public servants
Course content is bespoke to client request, and will usually include addressing social polarisation or current social concerns.