Study Abroad in a Developing and a Developed Country

139 Pages·2015·0.56 MB·English

by  Maria Costa

East Tennessee State University
Digital Commons @ East
Tennessee State University
Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works
8-2012
Study Abroad in a Developing and a Developed
Country: A Comparison of American
Undergraduate Students’ Experiences in Ghana
and England
Maria Costa
East Tennessee State University
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Costa, Maria, "Study Abroad in a Developing and a Developed Country: A Comparison of American Undergraduate Students’
Experiences in Ghana and England" (2012).Electronic Theses and Dissertations.Paper 1462. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1462
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Study Abroad in a Developing and a Developed Country: A Comparison of American
Undergraduate Students’ Experiences in Ghana and England
__________________
A dissertation
presented to
the faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
East Tennessee State University
In partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
__________________
by
Maria Costa
August 2012
__________________
Dr. Catherine Glascock, Chair
Dr. Cecil Blankenship
Dr. Virginia Foley
Dr. Pamela Scott
Keywords: England, Ghana, developed country, developing country, study abroad
ABSTRACT
Study Abroad in a Developing and a Developed Country: A Comparison of American
Undergraduate Students’ Experiences in Ghana and England
by
Maria Costa
This qualitative study examined the differences among the experiences of 7 American
undergraduate students; 4 who studied for a semester in Ghana, a developing country, and 3 who
studied for a semester in England, a developed country. Using phenomenology as its guiding
framework, transcribed interviews were analyzed and the focal phenomenon of the experience
was sought. In addition, examination of the literature suggested that study abroad in less
developed countries had the potential to impact the experience of students at a deeper level
because of the potential for what Jean Piaget termed “constructive disequilibrium” (Blake &
Pope, 2008, p. 61).
The data indicated that both student groups had significant experiences abroad but that each
group’s significant experiences were linked to the nature of their host country. In Ghana, 3
students discussed their sometimes shocking experience as a minority while 1 participant, a 1st
generation African-American, discussed the confusing experience of identifying with the racial
majority there, but only until she was identified as an American when she spoke.
In England, students were appalled to find the English people so openly expressing racism. They
encountered people who were considered liberal by American standards and found they were
identified in England as conservatives by English standards; a shock of sorts. The phenomenon
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encompassing all these experiences was of the students discovering they were part of a particular
culture and starting to understand why they had certain values and attitudes.
Findings of this research merely scratch the surface of the issue at hand and other researchers are
encouraged to replicate the study with a larger number of participants, using a combination of
qualitative and quantitative research methods, and making sure that the shortcomings of this
study in regards to validity are avoided.

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Copyright© 2012 by Maria Costa All Rights Reserved.

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DEDICATION
To John Daniel, Daniel Henry, and Laura and Hélio Costa
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to acknowledge the help and support of the members of my dissertation committee
and cherished teachers Dr. Catherine Glascock, Dr. Cecil Blankenship, Dr. Virginia Foley, and
Dr. Pamela Scott.
To my husband John and our son Daniel, thank you for your support and unconditional
love; I love you. To my best friend Janice Howell for her ever present encouragement, to my
dean Rebecca Pyles, my colleagues in International Programs and Services, and those in the
Honors College, thank you for all you have done in support of me during this journey.
To the brilliant, accomplished, and kind student participants in this study who welcomed
me into their lives with open hearts and arms; thank you and I wish you the best in life.
To my parents who, despite having only a 4th grade education, have a messianic belief in
the social equalization power of education. I finally finished it, Mom and Dad, at 53!

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CONTENTS

Page
ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... 2
DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................... 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... 6

Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 11
Context Setting and Historical Outline ...................................................................... 11
The United States Internationalism vs. Isolationism Policies Impact on Study
Abroad............................................................................................................ 13
Study Abroad Development ....................................................................................... 14
The Role of the US Government in International Education ..................................... 15
Emerging Issues in Study Abroad.............................................................................. 18
Statement of Purpose ................................................................................................. 20
Research Questions .................................................................................................... 22
Significance of the Study ........................................................................................... 22
Definition of Terms for the Study .............................................................................. 23
Delimitations and Limitations .................................................................................... 24
Phenomenology.......................................................................................................... 25
Theoretical Framework for the Study ........................................................................ 26
Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 26
2. LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................. 28
Context Setting........................................................................................................... 28
Study Abroad and International Education Research ................................................ 28
Study Abroad Outcomes Assessment ........................................................................ 30
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Multiple Assessment Studies ..................................................................................... 32
Single Assessment Studies ......................................................................................... 38
Site of Program and its Impact on Study Abroad Outcomes ..................................... 41
Making the Case for Study Abroad in Nontraditional Sites ...................................... 43
Constructive Disequilibrium ...................................................................................... 46
Literature Review Summary and Conclusion ............................................................ 48
Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 48
3. RESEARCH METHODS .............................................................................................. 50
The Qualitative Method of Research and Phenomenology ....................................... 50
Intuition and Phenomenology .................................................................................... 51
Research Questions .................................................................................................... 52
Researcher’s Role ...................................................................................................... 52
Sampling Criteria ....................................................................................................... 53
The Countries ............................................................................................................. 55
Data Collection Methods ........................................................................................... 56
Data Analysis Methods .............................................................................................. 58
Validity and Reliability in Qualitative Research Designs ......................................... 60
Internal Validity or Credibility ...................................................................... 60
Reliability or Dependability ........................................................................... 63
External Validity or Transferability ............................................................... 63
Triangulation or Crystallization ..................................................................... 64
Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................... 65
Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 67
4. FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................... 69
Dana’s Ghana Experience .......................................................................................... 70
Seth’s Ghana Experience ........................................................................................... 73
Kelly’s Ghana Experience ......................................................................................... 75
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John’s Ghana Experience ........................................................................................... 78
Mary’s England Experience ....................................................................................... 82
Nancy’s England Experience ..................................................................................... 86
Kevin’s England Experience...................................................................................... 89
Summary of Findings ................................................................................................. 92
Research Question 1 ...................................................................................... 92
Research Question 2 ...................................................................................... 94
Research Question 3 ...................................................................................... 95
Research Question 4 ...................................................................................... 97
Research Question 5 ...................................................................................... 98
Phenomenology.......................................................................................................... 98
Validity Issues ............................................................................................................ 99
Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 100
5. DISCUSSION, IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE, AND FURTHER RESEARCH . 101
Introduction ................................................................................................................ 101
Summary of the Experiences ..................................................................................... 101
Ghana Comparative Analysis .................................................................................... 103
Reversal of Racial Status ............................................................................... 104
Questioning Materialism ................................................................................ 106
Reverse Culture Shock ................................................................................... 107
Impact of Experience on Career .................................................................... 109
Personal Changes ........................................................................................... 110
England Comparative Analysis.................................................................................. 110
Racism............................................................................................................ 111
Reverse Culture Shock ................................................................................... 112
Personal Changes ........................................................................................... 113
Subordinate Themes....................................................................................... 113
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