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The primary purpose of the study was to reveal the perceptions of three newlyarrived
male Korean students enrolled in Texas A &M University during the 2007 fall
semester regarding their experiences with culture shock and the reasons they ascribed for
this phenomenon through three in -depth , individualized interviews and weekly L1
journals . The manner in which they responded to the culture shock as well as the
influential factors that assisted them in coping was also explored . By using a constant
comparative method of analysis , the collected data was scrutinized and analyzed for
emerging patterns . To assist in this process , the data was input into computer files and
analyzed using the software program NVivo 7 .
The findings uncovered the existence of some degree of culture shock for each of
the three participants at different times throughout the semester . In particular , a
comparatively much higher incidence of interpersonal and psychological symptoms of
culture shock than of physiological ones was displayed . Strong support for the individual nature of culture shock was also exhibited . In addition , the participants’ perceptions of
the experiences as well as their ability to cope or not cope with culture shock revealed a
capacity to overcome obstacles and reflect upon differences .
Support for the majority of the factors hypothesized to be influential in helping or
hindering the participants’ ability to cope with culture shock was exhibited . The
noteworthy impact of the participants’ personal outlook , marital status , length of stay in
the U .S . , religiosity , and previous international experience on lessening the effects of
culture shock was found . The influence of English , the university , and social
connectedness , however , was important in increasing their adjustment stress . The cultural
and ethnic differences between Korea and the U .S . were found to be the source of highly
individual challenges faced by the participants during the study . As all the participants
were males and their ages were within five years of each other , it was not possible to
compare the influence of these variables among them . The only factor expected to have
been influential in the participants’ adjustments to culture shock that was not evident was
counseling . |
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