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Factors that contribute to successful sojourner adjustment related to working and living in another culture

Posted on:2009-04-03Degree:Ed.DType:Dissertation
University:University of MinnesotaCandidate:Gabriel, Jon BrynFull Text:PDF
GTID:1449390002992835Subject:Education
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
This study was a qualitative investigation into factors that contribute to successful sojourner adjustment related to working and living in another culture. Based upon a review of the literature, six research questions were developed to study the impact of specific traits and characteristics on sojourner adjustment.;The study focused on American and Canadian ex-patriot teachers who were employed in international schools in the Caribbean basin area. The study had three groups with the first group being eight teachers who were involved in in-depth interviews. A second group of forty-one teachers were administered a survey while the final group of participants were three supervisors who were working in international schools in the Caribbean basin area. This group was interviewed individually.;Results from data collected from the three groups were then triangulated to arrive at basic conclusions for the six research questions that made up the study.;Results for Research Question 1 found that fluency in the language of the host culture does positively affect sojourner adjustment. An unanticipated finding was that it was not essential to sojourner adjustment that a sojourner speak the language of the host culture when he/she first arrived. However once the sojourner was in the culture, it was important that he/she had a willingness to learn the language of the host culture.;Research question 2 results found that the ability of the sojourner to establish friendships with host country nationals does positively affect successful sojourner adjustment.;The conclusions reached for Research Question 3 found that having a strong cultural identity for the home country does not negatively affect sojourner adjustment.;Research Question 4 results found that having an open-minded personality characterized by cultural empathy and outgoing characteristics does positively affect sojourner adjustment. The study had inconclusive results for the effect of resiliency on sojourner adjustment.;Data collected for Research Question 5 found that the attitude of the spouse towards living in the new culture does affect sojourner adjustment either positively or negatively, depending on which attitude the spouse displays.;The results for Research Question 6 found that having high self-esteem does positively affect sojourner adjustment.
Keywords/Search Tags:Sojourner adjustment, Factors that contribute, Research question, Working and living, Found that having, Culture, Caribbean basin area
PDF Full Text Request
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