Acculturation Patterns of Exchange Students to and from Ajou University = 국제 교환학생의 문화적 적응 및 관련 요인에 대한 연구

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The acculturation of exchange students is a unique case in the domain of acculturation. For a pre？]determined period of time, students study abroad, leaving behind their social networks, institutions and their culture and are expected to operate in an environment that they may know little about. During their time abroad, they are expected to perform academically and they must learn about a potentially unfamiliar and different culture. In the current study, two groups of students were investigated ？] 95 students from Ajou University who went abroad to individualist countries, namely the US, Europe and Oceania and 60 students from partner institutions who came to Ajou University, which is in a collectivist country. Results indicated that different processes were at work in the acculturation patterns of the two groups. For the students who went abroad from Ajou University, there was evidence to suggest personality being an important factor in determining their acculturation, while for those students coming to Ajou University, there was evidence to suggest that adherence to Korean cultural rules, norms and values was an important factor in determining acculturation. Results were discussed in terms of the individualist and collectivist framework.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction 1
• 1. Theoretical Background 1
• 1. Overview of Study 1
• 2. Life Cycle of an Exchange Student 2
• 3. The Processes of Acculturation 3
• 4. Acculturation Dimensions 3
• 5. Influence of Personality on Acculturation 4
• 6. Influence of Host Culture on Acculturation 6
• 7. Social Interaction Patterns 7
• 8. Positive and Negative Consequences of Acculturation 9
• 2. Potential Implications, Applications and Summary of Research Questions 10
• 1. Application to Expatriate Workers 10
• 2. Summary and Research Questions 11
• 2. Methods 13
• 1. Overview and Participants 13
• 1. Overview of Procedure 13
• 2. Participants 14
• 2. Measurement Scales 16
• 1. Personality Inventory 16
• 2. Acculturation Measure 16
• 3. Social Interaction with Own, Host and Other Country Students 17
• 4. Psychological Stress 18
• 5. Life Satisfaction 18
• 3. Results 19
• 1. Statistical Analyses 19
• 1. Overview of Analyses 19
• 2. Analysis of Inbound Students 20
• 1. Relationship between Personality Factors and Acculturation Dimensions, Social Interaction Patterns, Life Satisfaction and Psychological Stress 20
• 2. Changes in Acculturation, Social Interaction Patterns, Life Satisfaction and Psychological Stress 21
• 3. Changes in Acculturation Dimensions 22
• 4. Changes in Social Interaction Patterns 23
• 5. Changes in Life Satisfaction and Psychological Stress 25
• 3. Analyses of Outbound Students 26
• 1. Overview of Analyses 26
• 2. Relationship between personality factors and Acculturation Dimensions, Social Interaction Patterns, Life Satisfaction and Psychological Stress 26
• 3. Changes in Acculturation Dimensions 28
• 4. Changes in Social Interaction Patterns 29
• 5. Changes in Life Satisfaction and Psychological Stress 30
• 4. Discussion 32
• 1. Discussion of Results 32
• 1. Summary of Results 32
• 2. Implications for the Management of Exchange Students 34
• 3. Implications for the Management of Expatriate Workers 37
• 2. Limitations and Conclusions 39
• 1. Limitations and Future Directions 39
• 2. Summary and Conclusion 41
• 5. Notes 42
• [References] 43