Effects of an international homestay on the development of adolescent attitudes of worldmindedness
Date
1995
Authors
Walker, Catherine Lynn
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Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of an international homestay on the development of cross-cultural adjustment and worldminded attitudes. The methodology involved a pre- post- test questionnaire which was given to 38 pre-selected adolescents both before their one-month international visit and after their return. Eight of the subjects lived in Victoria and these eight were also interviewed to secure qualitative data. All subjects belonged to the Children's International Summer Village (CISV), a nonprofit, charitable organization with 90 member countries. There are nine chapters across Canada. Six of these chapters had an active homestay interchange for teenagers and agreed to give the mailed questionnaire to their interchange participants. The questionnaire was developed using items from Hansel's (1986) "Impact Study" and Sampson & Smith's (1957) "Worldmindedness Scale". Additional items were developed by the author.
Using one-way analysis of variance it was found that gender and enjoyment of the homestay were related to changes in cross-cultural adjustment and a worldminded frame of reference. Further, !-tests revealed factors such as "self-confidence" and "communication" to be characteristics on which those with higher levels of enjoyment differed from those with lower levels. The quantitative component of the study examined the characteristics which enhanced enjoyment of the homestay experience and those which contributed to gender differences. Although knowledge, feelings, and personal characteristics were revealed in the qualitative data, the analysis of the questionnaire data was inconclusive in associating the homestay experience with a more worldminded frame of reference.