Abstract
<p>High/low-context communication (HLCC) is one of the most widely used concepts in intercultural communication, yet little theoretical development has taken place over the past decades and existing measurement instruments remain psychometrically and theoretically limited. We argue that prior operationalizations have captured only a subset of the construct's theoretical scope, and propose a reconceptualization of HLCC as a multidimensional individual-level orientation encompassing four core dimensions: verbal vs. nonverbal communication, honesty vs. relationship orientation, self-awareness, and shared understanding. We report two studies documenting the development and validation of the High/Low-Context Communication Scale (HLCCS). Study 1 (n = 276) established the factor structure and initial validity. Study 2 (n = 576) confirmed measurement invariance across six culturally diverse nations (Netherlands, USA, UK, South Africa, India, Japan), and provided convergent and discriminant validity evidence against individualism/collectivism and social dominance orientation. The HLCCS offers a theoretically grounded and psychometrically sound instrument for individual-level assessment of communication style.</p>