Page 59 - Movers, Shapers, and Everything in Between: Influencers of the International Student Experience

achievement (Bandiera, Larcinese, & Rasul, 2010; Neves & Hillman, 2017). The influence of size on satisfaction may extend to a university’s surroundings, as well: a 2014 report from Study Portals analysing over 16,000 comments made by nearly 7,000 students revealed that “in smaller cities and universities, or those with well organized activities, students find it easier to connect to others, while in large cities and universities they find it harder”.
3. Student Characteristics
This study considers how stage of study may impact satisfaction, drawing on theories related to sojourner adaptation and adjustment. Some research suggests that sojourner adjustment follows a “U-curve”, first conceptualized by Lysgaard in 1955, in which an individual transitions from a “honeymoon” period, in which satisfaction is high, into culture shock, and later enter a recovery and adjustment. Other theories conceptualize a “W-curve” in which the initial culture shock is followed by reverse culture shock upon re-entry into the sojourners’ home country (Gullahorn & Gullahorn, 1963). While the applicability of these curves has been disputed (Ward, Bochner, & Furnham, 2001; Berardo, 2006), examining how a student’s stage of study may affect their experience merits further understanding.
This study also explores whether male and female international students differ in satisfaction. A study on international student satisfaction in Ireland found that female students had higher satisfaction with their studies than male students (Finn & Darmody, 2017), and that female international students were more likely to have meaningful relationships with host nationals than male students (Yang, Teraoka, Eichenfield & Audas,1994). Previous research has revealed gender differences in satisfaction in many consumer contexts, including education (Bendall-Lyon & Powers, 2002), and that males and females differ in social and interpersonal skills relevant to multicultural settings (Sinangil & Ones, 2003).
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Factors Impacting Satisfaction
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