Andrade, M. S. (2008). International student persistence at
a faith-based institution. Christian Higher Education, 7(5),
434-451.
Andrade (2008) explored “the experiences of international students in their senior
year at a faith-based institution to identify persistence factors” because the
author argued that dominant persistent studies were inadequate to explain the
behaviors of international students in America (p. 434). For example, previous research missed some
critical factors such as adjustment needs of international students to American
pedagogical styles and cultures, social (relational) needs from their isolation
and loneness, and academic needs to overcome difficulties with comprehension of
lectures.
In order to understand the persistence of
international students, Andrade (2008) reviewed several previous studies regarding “perspectives of cultural integration and campus climate that were particularly
relevant to international student persistence” (p. 436). As institutional factors that related to
educational persistence of international students, the precollege experiences or situations, academic aptitude,
academic motivation, and
sense of belonging in school were revised for
the literature review in this study. Especially, studies of religious (spiritual) involvement and
family relationship effects were (both negatively and positively) were reviewed
as international students’ (inner) self-development. These previous literatures were well
organized; however, studies of diversity, unequal social structure, and economic obstacles that were considered as significant factors of persistence were not included in this
research (Tinto, 1993, 1997).
Andrade (2008) selected 17 international senior students related to Church or
mission organizations (53% from Pacific Island and 47% from Asian countries) at
a university in Hawaii. The researcher used in-depth
face-to-face interviews that began with “a grand tour
question” (background, personal characteristics, and university itself) and
specific questions (p. 438). Interview
procedures including recoding, transcribing for data analysis and identification
of common themes were well described for the research design. The central research question of the study
was “how have students’ home and educational backgrounds, experiences at the
university, and personal characteristics influenced their persistence?” (p.
438). The research questions logically related to
the purpose statement.
In the findings section of the research, data
analysis was clearly presented with six major themes: “vision of the future,
home and educational background, spirituality, validation, attitudes and
abilities, and institutional engagement” (p. 439). Each theme contains detailed observation
results in the following subcategories: 1) ‘forming future visions that were
influenced by personal experiences, parents, and religious missions were
important for the value of education; 2) home and educational background played
a role in students’ desires for further education; 3) spirituality permeated
all aspects of the students’ lives; 4) validation from parents, family members,
peers, professors, staff, and church leaders provided both external and
internal supports; 5) learning attitudes and abilities were important to have
positive mindset and self-motivation; and 6) institutional engagements such as
courses, support services, programs, and extracurricular activities contributed
on the spiritual life’ (pp. 440-447).
Andrade (2008) is fundamentally based on descriptive statements gathered
through interviews and excludes the researcher’s assumptions or biases. Only in the discussion section, the
researcher includes subjectivity and personal thoughts to give a deeper
understanding of the facts discovered through the interviews. If the research used the previous studies (that
he wrote in the literature review section in this study) at this finding and
discussion section, it was useful to minimize bias of the facts and ensure the
validity of his personal discoveries. Another weakness was implication
section of this research. Of course, results of this study
could not be generalized to all international
students in Unites States because this research was of a small number of
students in a particular school.
However, if the researcher provided some specific implications for how
the institution welcomes, supports, and validates international students, it
would be helpful educational leaders and administrators. On the basis of the
purpose statement and research questions, except these weaknesses, this article was generally well-organized with an appropriate
literature review, sampling, and research method.
No comments:
Post a Comment