Students of Color Studying Abroad: A Qualitative Description of the Factors that Influence Participation and the Perceived Impact of Participation

摘要

Research indicates that study abroad participation has many benefits, including increasing students' language proficiency, intercultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication skills when compared with students who do not study abroad. Additionally, study abroad have been found to shape students' career paths, and academic pursuits. Despite these outcomes, students of color (ethnic minority students) at American postsecondary institutions participate at a lower rate than their White peers. Literature exploring the underrepresentation of students of color in study abroad has primarily focused on the barriers to participation; very little is written about students of color who complete a study abroad program.;The purpose of this dissertation was to describe two dimensions of the study abroad experience for students of color: the factors that contribute to students' decision to study abroad, and the perceived impact of the study abroad experience. The use of qualitative research methods were employed in order to provide a thick description of the study abroad experience for students of color. The perspective of students as well as study abroad administrators---who possess a macro-level view of study abroad decision-making and impact---were solicited. A four-pronged plan for data collection and analysis was used, and conceptual frameworks for contextualizing discussions on study abroad decision-making and impact were introduced. Interview and survey data were coded for analysis and dominant themes were presented as findings.;Institutional, relational and internal factors were identified as motivators or contributors to students' participation in study abroad programs. Students of color were found to be impacted by study abroad personally, academically and professionally; examples of the scope of impact were provided. Particularly salient were students' description of the impact of studying abroad on aspects of their gendered, ethnic and national identities and the intersection between these identities. The researcher also identified a gap between the perspective of administrators and the perspective of students concerning what motivates students of color to study abroad.;Implications for students, study abroad administrators, institutional leaders, students and students' extended social networks were discussed. Topics for future research on students of color and were identified and changes to study abroad practice and policy were suggested.