This article is intended for licensed IDI Qualified Administrators. If you are not a licensed IDI Qualified Administrator and are interested in being licensed to use the Intercultural Development Inventory, visit this article: Should I become an IDI Qualified Administrator (QA)?
Sometimes QAs use the term "aspirational" when referring to the Perceived Orientation (PO) because it can be helpful for respondents to understand why their PO is higher than their Developmental Orientation (DO). The PO is an indication of how the respondent feels like they show up when engaging cultural differences. For example, if I feel like I am operating in Acceptance (and that is my PO), it is likely how I want others to see me as well. At times, respondents can be confused or disappointed when they learn their PO is higher than their DO. Addressing the higher score as an aspiration can help the respondent better understand the difference in PO and DO scores.