The cultural adaptation of Chinese students to Canada : a study of Chinese students in the University of Victoria
| dc.contributor.author | Tu, Wei | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-08-15T20:10:33Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-08-15T20:10:33Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 1992 | en_US |
| dc.date.issued | 1992 | |
| dc.degree.department | Department of Sociology | |
| dc.degree.level | Master of Arts M.A. | en |
| dc.description.abstract | This study explores regularities in adjustment sequences and predictable correlates of phases in cultural adaptation for graduate students from the People's Republic of China. Eight factors were selected for examination: interaction with Canadians, friendship with Canadians, English language proficiency, length of stay, discrimination experienced and perceived, financial aid, prior knowledge of Wester culture and age. Specifically, this study focuses on eight hypotheses: Hypothesis 1: Successful adaptation is positively related to the amount of participation in activities with Canadians. Hypothesis 2: Successful adaptation is positively related to friendship with Canadians. Hypothesis 3: Successful adaptation is positively related to the level of English proficiency. Hypothesis 4: Successful adaptation is positively related to the length of stay in Canada. Hypothesis 5: Successful adaptation is inversely related to the degree of discrimination perceived and experienced. Hypothesis 6: Successful adaptation is positively related to the amount of financial aid received. Hypothesis 7: Successful adaptation is positively associated with previous exposure to Western culture. Hypothesis 8: Successful adaptation is inversely related to age. A sample of 95 Chinese graduate students at the University of Victoria was selected, which was close to the total graduate student population from mainland China in the university. A close-ended questionnaire with 61 questions was used to collect the data. Two indices - adjustment index and assimilation index - were constructed to measure two dimensions of cultural adaptation. Other indices for measuring eight independent variables were used to test specific hypotheses. The findings of this study indicate that command of English is the most important determinant of difficulties in adjustment. The length of stay in Canada and the amount of financial aid from Canadian sources are positively related to adjustment and assimilation. However, none of the other hypothesized variables is an effective predictor of adjustment and assimilation. The results show that these Chinese students did not have broad and frequent contact with their Canadian counterparts. Their relationship with Canadians was characterized by being friendly but business-like. Contrary to the findings of many previous researchers, this study found that there is no positive relationship between the amount of participation in activities with Canadians and cultural adaptation. The fact that there is a strong Chinese community within and outside the university and that help can be obtained easily from the people of the same origin may explain that successful adaptation does not necessarily relate positively to the degree of social interaction with the host community when individuals have recourse to their own support networks. Recommendations are made in an attempt to assist both Canadian institutions of higher education and Chinese students to ease the adaptation process in a new environment. | en |
| dc.format.extent | 96 pages | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/19943 | |
| dc.rights | Available to the World Wide Web | en_US |
| dc.subject | UN SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | en |
| dc.title | The cultural adaptation of Chinese students to Canada : a study of Chinese students in the University of Victoria | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
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