Crossing the Distance: Adjustment of Taiwanese Graduate Students in the United States

Using qualitative and quantitative methodologies across 3 samples, the authors investigated the cross-cultural adjustment of Taiwanese students attending graduate school in the United States. First, interviews with 25 Taiwanese students regarding their experiences in the United States revealed theme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of counseling psychology 2003-10, Vol.50 (4), p.420-437
Main Authors: Swagler, Michelle A, Ellis, Michael V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acculturation
Adjustment
Adjustment (to Environment)
Biological and medical sciences
Chinese Cultural Groups
College students
Cultural Differences
Educational psychology
English
English (Second Language)
Female
Focus Groups
Foreign Countries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Graduate Students
Graduate studies
Human
International Students
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal Relationship
Interviews
Language Proficiency
Limited English Speaking
Male
Postgraduate students
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychosocial Factors
Pupil and student. Academic achievement and failure
Social Adjustment
Sociocultural Factors
Student Adjustment
Taiwan
Taiwanese people
United States
Universities
USA
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Summary:Using qualitative and quantitative methodologies across 3 samples, the authors investigated the cross-cultural adjustment of Taiwanese students attending graduate school in the United States. First, interviews with 25 Taiwanese students regarding their experiences in the United States revealed themes of language barriers, confidence about speaking English, social contact with Taiwanese and Americans, and cultural differences, which included the importance of being independent. Second, the results of a quantitative study ( n = 67) generally supported the hypotheses that communication apprehension and social contact predicted adaptation, whereas actual English ability did not, and that Taiwanese students identified being independent as important to their functioning in the United States. Third, a focus group with 4 graduate students provided a richer conceptualization of the interactions among the constructs.
ISSN:0022-0167
1939-2168
DOI:10.1037/0022-0167.50.4.420