International Understanding:  Summer study abroad

December 22, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized |

Summer study abroad:  One of the often-stated goals of international education exchange is that it should lead to increased levels of global understanding.  While the goal is laudatory, heightened levels of international understanding resulting from a foreign sojourn remain difficult to document. One reason for this is that there is little theory to guide our conceptualization of what international understanding is. Accordingly, the measures used to assess the construct are varied and not representative of a defined set of behaviors and/or attitudes. In our view, one’s level of international understanding is not static; rather, we see it as time and place dependent and the product of a complex set of dynamic interactions that involve one’s orientation to changing circumstances and events. Hence, no single definition of international understanding can be made with confidence, and at least for the present time, the construct must be understood in terms of the specific operational definitions given to it by researchers in the field.

Summer study abroad:  The first scale employed assesses cognitive aspects of international understanding. It asks the respondent to describe his or her position, ranging from "extensive" (1), to "considerable" (2 and 3), to "fair" (4), to "slight (5 and 6), to "nonexistent" (7), on 17 items. Examples of the items are: "Awareness of problems common to many nations," "Critical views of your own country," and "Interest in learning more languages."

Summer study abroad:  The second scale employed assesses affective aspects of international understanding. It also utilizes a 7-point response format. On this 13-item scale, the respondent is asked to indicate how strongly he or she agrees or disagrees with the statement presented. The choices, ranging from "strongly disagree" (1), to "moderately disagree" (2), to "slightly disagree" (3), to "indifferent" (4), to "slightly agree" (5), to "moderately agree" (6), to "strongly agree" (7), include "Pacific [peaceful] demonstrations [picketing missile bases, peace walks, etc.] are harmful to the best interests of my home country," "Patriotism and loyalty are the first and most important requirements of a good citizen," "It is none of our business if other governments restrict the personal freedom of their citizens," and "I prefer to be a citizen of the world than of any country."