Abstract

International students are a continuously growing population in the United States (Institute of International Education, 2013). Upon arriving in a new country, cultural differences often influence students' preferred media. This paper explores the association between cultural adaptation and media selection among international students in the United States. Uses and gratifications theory is used as a theoretical foundation. A survey was administered to collect data about motives for consuming news, entertainment and sports media content, and level of cultural adaptation among students from different cultural backgrounds. The results suggest the correlation is more relevant for sports, showing that when international students feel more proud towards their own culture they are likely to consume sports to find their culture's values reflected, as well to keep current with news and events of the world, and also to learn from the American culture.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Students, Foreign--Cultural assimilation--United States; Mass media--Social aspects--United States; Consumer behavior--United States

Publication Date

12-8-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Communication and Media Technologies (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Department of Communication (CLA)

Advisor

Patrick Scanlon

Advisor/Committee Member

Andrea Hickerson

Advisor/Committee Member

Sara Armengot

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at HM841 .M47 2014

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

COMMTCH-MS

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