Acculturation Strategy, Integration Paradoxes and Educational Adaptation—A Case Study of Chinese Visiting Scholar’s Family in the United States

Abstract

In this case study, we developed a theoretical framework for examining the relationship between acculturation strategy and educational adaptation. By interviews and observations of one Chinese visiting scholar’s family in the United States, we found that the family utilized integration as the acculturation strategy to adapt to the US educational environment. However, we also found that the family’s perceived integration attitudes and behaviors were opposed to its actual integration attitudes and behaviors, which we called integration paradoxes. These integration paradoxes included the following four areas: a) cultural difference; b) academic and non-academic problem solving; c) academic expectations; and d) bicultural competence. The findings indicated potential moderated and/or mediated effects of the four integration paradoxes on the relationship between integration and educational adaptation.