The Adjustment Problems of African Students at Western Michigan University

111 Pages·2016·3.83 MB·English

by  Apollos Bitrus Goyol

WWeesstteerrnn MMiicchhiiggaann UUnniivveerrssiittyy
SScchhoollaarrWWoorrkkss aatt WWMMUU
Dissertations Graduate College
6-2002
TThhee AAddjjuussttmmeenntt PPrroobblleemmss ooff AAffrriiccaann SSttuuddeennttss aatt WWeesstteerrnn
MMiicchhiiggaann UUnniivveerrssiittyy
Apollos Bitrus Goyol
Western Michigan University
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations
Part of the International and Comparative Education Commons, and the Other Education Commons
RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn
Goyol, Apollos Bitrus, "The Adjustment Problems of African Students at Western Michigan University"
(2002). Dissertations. 1283.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1283
This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free
and open access by the Graduate College at
ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion
in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of
ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please
contact [email protected].
THE ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS OF AFRICAN STUDENTS
AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
by
Apollos Bitrus Goyol
A Dissertation
Submitted to the
Faculty of The Graduate College
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Educational Studies
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
June 2002
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
THE ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS OF AFRICAN STUDENTS
AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Apollos Bitrus Goyol, Ph.D.
Western Michigan University, 2002
There are more international students enrolled in colleges and universities in
the U.S. than in any other country as reported by the Institute of International
Education. In the 2000/01 school year, the institute estimated that 547,867 inter­
national students were studying in the U.S. Most of these students, 302,058 (55%)
came from countries in Asia; and 80,584 (14.7%) came from Europe. Latin America
had 63,634 (11.6%); followed by the Middle East, with 36,858 (6.7%); Africa, with
34,217 (6.2%); North America, with 25,888 (4.7%), and Oceania, with 4,624 (.8%).
Ten students were Stateless. As a response to the high number of international stu­
dents, an increasing amount of literature has addressed the specific needs, unique
experiences, and acculturation patterns of these students (Essandoh, 1995; Hayes &
Lin, 1994; Pedersen, 1991; Sandhu, 1995).
Adjustment is defined as the process through which individuals become inte­
grated into a new environment, including the satisfaction of motivations and needs.
Adjustment/Acculturation research on international students has revealed that varia­
bles such as perceived discrimination, use of the English language, finances, and
shorter time spent in the U.S. contribute to lower levels of adjustment. The impact of
declared majors, length of stay, marital status, age, and gender in the
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
adjustment process has also been addressed in several studies, revealing conflicting
results.
The purpose of the present study is to examine if and how the above five
stated variables contribute to the adjustment process, using the Michigan Inter­
national Student Inventory Problems (MISPI) checklist. One hundred and thirty
African students enrolled at Western Michigan University for the 2000/01 academic
year were surveyed to determine their perceptions of their own adjustment and accul­
turation processes. Statistical analysis of the data included descriptive statistics, para­
metric tests, t-test, and MANOVA. The major findings of the study were that African
students at Western Michigan University identified the financial aid and English lan­
guage adjustment areas as those with which they were most concerned and least con­
cerned, respectively. Surprisingly, the five variables tested (age, gender, academic
classification, and duration of stay in the United States) did not differentiate differ­
ences in the current sample.
In summary, this study indicates that an accurate understanding of inter­
national student adjustment/ acculturation problems requires identifying variables that
might influence their American educational sojourn. A qualitative research approach
may help identify other unknown factors that may relate to adjustment problems as
well as provide important information that may help guide the revision of the MISPI.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
INFORMATION TO USERS
This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films
the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and
dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of
computer printer.
The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the
copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations
and photographs, print bieedthrough, substandard margins, and improper
alignment can adversely affect reproduction.
In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript
and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized
copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion.
Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by
sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing
from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps.
ProQuest Information and Learning
300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA
800-521-0600
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
UMI Number 3060706
Copyright 2002 by
Goyol, Apollos Bitrus
All rights reserved.
_ ___ __®
UMI
UMI Microform 3060706
Copyright 2002 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company.
All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against
unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code.
ProQuest Information and Learning Company
300 North Zeeb Road
P.O. Box 1346
Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Copyright by
Apollos Bitrus Goyol
2002
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost I want to thank the Lord God almighty for bringing me this
far and without whom this study could have not been possible.
This dissertation could not have been completed without the assistance,
support and cooperation of several people too numerous to mention to whom I am
highly indebted to.
To Dr. Charles Warfield, advisor and Chairperson, words cannot express my
appreciation for your guidance and assistance throughout the duration of my study.
To Dr. Brooks Applegate, Co-Chairperson, thank you so much for all your
time. Dr. Gary Wegenke, and Dr. Carl Woloszyk, for your willingness to serve as
members of my committee and their interest and assistance in helping me complete
the research, I say thank you so much.
To my children, Wadelnen and Nenfot, and especially my dear wife Jemima,
for your prayers, support, encouragement, understanding, and patience which gave me
the strength to go on I say may the good Lord blessed you real good and we all look
forward to the future with lots optimism as the Lord wills. And finally I dedicate this
work to my dear parents for all their relentless prayers and unwavering support.
Apollos Bitrus Goyol
ii
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................ii
LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................vii
LIST OF FIGURES...........................................................................................................ix
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................1
Rationale for the Study..................................................................................6
Purpose of the Study......................................................................................7 **
Research Questions.........................................................................................8
Assumptions..................... 8
Implications of the Study...............................................................................9
Definition of Terms.......................................................................................9
Limitations of the Study..............................................................................10
E. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE..........................................................11
Introduction....................................................................................................11
Theories of Acculturation/Adjustment........................................................14
Pattern of Adjustment.........................................................................16
Adjustment Problems of International Students
in U.S. Higher Education Institutions.........................................................20
Research Using the MISPI..........................................................................25
iii
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.