american college students who chose to study abroad

217 Pages·2014·6.45 MB·English

by  Andrea Shearer

AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO CHOSE TO STUDY ABROAD:
CASE STUDY NARRATIVES

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
IN
EDUCATION

MAY 2014

By
Andrea J. Shearer

Dissertation Committee:
Eileen Tamura, Chairperson
Xu Di
Warren Nishimoto
Sarita Rai
Marie Iding

Keywords: study abroad motivation and influences, narrative inquiry, qualitative inquiry
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Acknowledgments
I would like to first and foremost acknowledge my advisor, Dr. Eileen Tamura,
for her dedication to this project. My additional committee members, Dr. Xu Di, Dr.
Warren Nishimoto, Dr. Sarita Rai, and Dr. Marie Iding, were also instrumental in
augmenting the quality of this study. I credit the direction and enhancement of this
dissertation to my entire committee’s guidance, advice, and constructive feedback.
Professors I have taken courses from along the way taught me how to do research,
and more importantly, how to think like a researcher. To my original research guru, Dr.
Julie Carlson, I thank you for helping me start down this path. To Dr. Chris Collins, thank
you for expanding my knowledge and understanding of research methods. Dr. Jasper
Hunt, thank you for your ethical counsel and just for being you.
I would also like to thank my friends and family who saw me through this
process. David Ippen, Amy Lodwig, and Jeanine Lewis, thank you for your love and
support throughout my entire program.

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Abstract
This qualitative study attempted to uncover motivations and influences that led
ten American undergraduate college students to study abroad. The literature review
discussed various types of study abroad programming, acknowledged benefits accrued
from a foreign study experience, addressed criticisms of study abroad, and reviewed the
few extant studies on motivation to study abroad. Narrative inquiry framed the data
collection process, while hermeneutic phenomenology provided the analytic framework. I
interviewed respondents and subsequently analyzed the data in order to unearth
motivations and influences derived from participants’ lived experiences. I then
categorized the findings thematically and compared them to existing literature on the
benefits of study abroad, motivation to study abroad, and psychological approaches to
motivation. A discussion of these comparisons details areas and methods for enhancing
outreach and marketing efforts for study abroad programs, and for expanding and/or
creating programming that appeals to students. The intent of this study was to assist in
augmenting the knowledge of the field, to increase the number of qualitative, narrative
inquiry studies relating to motivation and influences to study abroad, and to help increase
the number of American students who study abroad.

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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... ii
Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii
List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... xi
List of Figures ................................................................................................................... xii
Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Definition and Evolution of Study Abroad ........................................................... 1
1.2. Recent History ...................................................................................................... 3
1.3. Context of Study .................................................................................................... 4
1.3.1. What Is Globalization? ................................................................................. 4
1.3.2. Why Engage in Globalization? .................................................................... 5
1.3.3. Challenges to Globalization .......................................................................... 7
1.3.4. Why Educate for Globalization? .................................................................. 8
1.3.5. Why Study Abroad for a Globalized Education? ...................................... 10
1.4. Statement of Problem ........................................................................................... 11
1.5. Purpose of Study .................................................................................................. 12
1.6. Research Question ............................................................................................... 13
1.7. Significance of Study ........................................................................................... 14
1.8. Research Design ................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 16
2.1 Definition and Categories ..................................................................................... 16
2.1.1. Mainstreaming ............................................................................................ 17
2.1.2. Students and faculty abroad ........................................................................ 18
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2.1.3. Student exchange programs ........................................................................ 20
2.1.4. Schools for foreigners ................................................................................. 21
2.1.5. The enclave model ...................................................................................... 22
2.1.6. Satellite campuses ....................................................................................... 22
2.1.7. Study tours .................................................................................................. 24
2.1.8. Individual study abroad ............................................................................... 25
2.1.9. Internships ................................................................................................... 27
2.2. Benefits of Study Abroad ..................................................................................... 28
2.2.1. Global awareness ........................................................................................ 28
2.2.2. Cross-cultural competence .......................................................................... 30
2.2.3. Intercultural sensitivity ............................................................................... 31
2.2.4. Academic skills ........................................................................................... 32
2.2.5. Career skills ................................................................................................ 34
2.2.6. Foreign language skills ............................................................................... 35
2.2.7. Personal growth .......................................................................................... 36
2.3. Criticisms and Challenges of Study Abroad ........................................................ 38
2.3.1. Discrimination ............................................................................................. 38
2.3.2. Academic quality control ............................................................................ 45
2.3.3. A question of what is learned ...................................................................... 46
2.3.4. Social and academic development .............................................................. 47
2.3.5. Diversity at home ........................................................................................ 50
2.3.6. Culture shock .............................................................................................. 51
2.3.7. Cultural and communication barriers .......................................................... 53
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2.3.8. Re-entry issues ............................................................................................ 55
2.4. Motivation, Influences, and Barriers to Study Abroad ....................................... 59
2.4.1. Motivation and influences ........................................................................... 59
2.4.2. Barriers ........................................................................................................ 63
2.5. Summary .............................................................................................................. 67
Chapter 3: Methods ........................................................................................................... 69
3.1. Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................... 69
3.2. Research Question ............................................................................................... 71
3.3. Narrative Inquiry .................................................................................................. 72
3.3.1. Definition and key terms ............................................................................. 72
3.3.2. The in-depth interview ................................................................................ 73
3.3.3. Limitations .................................................................................................. 74
3.3.4. Application .................................................................................................. 76
3.4. Hermeneutic Phenomenology .............................................................................. 79
3.4.1. Constructionist epistemology ...................................................................... 82
3.5. Research Relationships ........................................................................................ 83
3.5.1. Researcher-research .................................................................................... 83
3.5.2. Researcher-researched ................................................................................ 88
3.6. Case Study Design ............................................................................................... 91
3.6.1. Definition .................................................................................................... 91
3.6.2. Interpretation in context .............................................................................. 91
3.6.3. Strengths ..................................................................................................... 92
3.6.4. Limitations .................................................................................................. 92
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3.6.5. Application .................................................................................................. 94
3.6.6. Classification ............................................................................................... 95
3.7. Participant Selection and Recruitment ................................................................. 96
Chapter 4: Findings: Unanimous Categories .................................................................... 99
4.1. Family .................................................................................................................. 99
4.1.1. Exposure to others ....................................................................................... 99
4.1.2. Values ....................................................................................................... 105
4.1.3. Direct encouragement ............................................................................... 108
4.1.4. Financial support ....................................................................................... 108
4.1.5. Heritage seeking ........................................................................................ 109
4.2. Personality .......................................................................................................... 110
4.2.1. Traveller’s spirit ........................................................................................ 110
4.2.2. Determination ........................................................................................... 112
4.2.3. Flexibility .................................................................................................. 117
4.3. Childhood Experiences ...................................................................................... 117
4.3.1. Travel ........................................................................................................ 117
4.3.2. Outdoor activities ...................................................................................... 118
4.3.3. Exposure to media ..................................................................................... 119
4.3.4. Interest in history ...................................................................................... 124
4.3.5. Neighborhood ........................................................................................... 124
4.3.6. Military upbringing ................................................................................... 125
4.4. Program .............................................................................................................. 126
4.4.1. Subject of program .................................................................................... 127
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4.4.2. Location of program ................................................................................. 127
4.4.3. Structure of program ................................................................................. 129
4.4.4. Length of program .................................................................................... 131
4.5. Opportunity ........................................................................................................ 132
Chapter 5: Findings: Non-Unanimous Categories .......................................................... 136
5.1. Interest in Other Cultures ................................................................................... 136
5.2. Academics .......................................................................................................... 140
5.3. Career ................................................................................................................. 141
5.4. Influential People ............................................................................................... 143
5.4.1. Friends ....................................................................................................... 143
5.4.2. Teachers .................................................................................................... 144
5.4.3. Extended family ........................................................................................ 145
5.4.4. Co-workers ................................................................................................ 145
5.5. Language Learning ............................................................................................ 146
5.6. Previous International Travel ............................................................................. 148
5.7. Professors ........................................................................................................... 150
5.8. Study Abroad Office .......................................................................................... 151
Chapter 6: Analysis ......................................................................................................... 154
6.1. “Push” Factors ................................................................................................... 154
6.1.1. Family, childhood experiences, influential people, and previous
international travel ............................................................................................. 155

6.1.2. Personality: Determination ...................................................................... 156
6.1.3. Professors .................................................................................................. 156
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6.2. Push Factors and Benefits of Study Abroad Literature ..................................... 156
6.3. Push Factors and Study Abroad Motivation Literature ..................................... 156
6.4. Push Factors and Psychological Motivation Literature ..................................... 158
6.4.1. Sociocultural Approach ............................................................................ 158
6.4.1.1. Zone of proximal development ........................................................ 158
6.4.1.2. Co-regulation model ........................................................................ 159
6.5. “Pull” Factors ..................................................................................................... 161
6.5.1. Personality: Traveller’s spirit and flexibility ............................................ 161
6.5.2. Program ..................................................................................................... 161
6.5.3. Opportunity ............................................................................................... 161
6.5.4. Interest in other cultures ............................................................................ 162
6.5.5. Academics, career, and language learning ................................................ 162
6.5.6. Professors .................................................................................................. 162
6.5.7. Study abroad office ................................................................................... 163
6.6. Pull Factors and Benefits of Study Abroad Literature ....................................... 163
6.7. Pull Factors and Study Abroad Motivation Literature ....................................... 164
6.8. Pull Factors and Psychological Motivation Literature ....................................... 166
6.8.1. Socio-cultural approach ............................................................................ 167
6.8.1.1. Situative theories .............................................................................. 167
6.8.2. Social cognitive approach ......................................................................... 169
6.8.2.1. Belief-value matrix .......................................................................... 169
6.8.2.2. Achievement motivation theory ....................................................... 170
6.8.2.3. Approach-avoidance motivation theory ........................................... 170
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6.8.3. Cognitive approach ................................................................................... 173
6.8.3.1. Goal-setting theory ........................................................................... 173
6.8.4. Humanistic approach ................................................................................ 174
6.8.4.1. Self-determination theory ................................................................ 174
6.8.4.1.1. Cognitive evaluation theory .................................................... 175
6.8.4.1.2. Organismic integration theory ................................................ 176
Chapter 7: Discussion ..................................................................................................... 181
7.1. Outreach and Marketing .............................................................................. 181
7.2. Programming ................................................................................................ 183
7.3. Campus Culture .......................................................................................... 184
7.4. Limitations of the Study ............................................................................... 186
7.5. Recommendations for Future Research ....................................................... 186
7.6. Contribution to the Field .............................................................................. 187
Appendix A: Recruitment Flyer ...................................................................................... 188
Appendix B: Research Consent Form ............................................................................. 189
Appendix C: Pre-interview Protocol ............................................................................... 191
Appendix D: Interview Protocol ..................................................................................... 192
References ....................................................................................................................... 193

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