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Mason Thomas Master Dissertation.pdf (2.96 MB)

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An Analysis of the Decline in Long-Term Study Abroad Participation Among Students at Elite U.S. Universities, with a Focus on Japan

Mason, Thomas J, Jr.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0923-4084
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1556805857911929

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, East Asian Languages and Literatures.
The purpose of this study is to determine why students at U.S. elite universities prefer to study abroad in Japan in short-term (8 weeks or less) programs rather than the traditional mid-length (more than 8 weeks but no more than 1 semester) and long-term (longer than 1 semester or quarter) programs. Although participation in study abroad among U.S. students to all destinations has increased by approximately 45% over the last decade, almost all of the increase comes from short-term programs. Conversely, mid-length and long-term programs have experienced steep declines in enrollment, dropping from 41% of total number of students studying abroad to just 36.6% and from 5.3% to just 2.4%, respectively, over the same period. The decrease in enrollment is a problem because extended participation and experience in the foreign country where the language is spoken and culture practiced aids the journey to high cultural and linguistic competency in a foreign language and culture (Davidson, 2010; Dwyer, 2004; MacAloon, 2008; Medina-Lopez-Portillo, 2004; Kehl and Morris, 2008; Zorn, 1996). Using a mixed-methods approach, 112 1st- and 2nd-year Japanese-language students at elite U.S. universities and 22 Japanese-language instructors were surveyed on the study abroad decision process, followed by seven interviews with respondents who volunteered to participate in the subsequent qualitative phase. Study findings clearly show that Japanese-language students at elite U.S. universities (a) have a strong interest in studying abroad in Japan, (b) mainly wish to study abroad to improve their Japanese-language skills and gain proficiency in the Japanese culture, and (c) are hesitant to study abroad in Japan in mid-length and long-term programs because they fear they lack time in their undergraduate curriculum and worry that appropriate courses needed for an on-time graduation are unavailable abroad. Importantly, no significantly statistical difference emerged between science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors and non-STEM majors in their reasons for hesitating to study abroad in mid-length and long-term programs, contrasting with a commonly held belief that the decline is, in part, due to the greater number of students majoring in STEM. Recommended future research includes a longitudinal study that would follow respondents to determine whether they ultimately studied abroad or spent time abroad in other forms, and then, determining if students who chose to study abroad and those who do not differ in engagement with Japan throughout their careers.
Mari Noda, Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair)
Xiaobin Jian, Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair)
Charles Quinn, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
163 p.
Asian Studies; Education; Foreign Language; Sociology
study abroad; education abroad; internationalization; globalization; global education; academic year abroad; international education; Japan; undergraduate; elite students; worldview; college choice; language learning; Japanese; pedagogy

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Citations

  • Mason, Jr., T. J. (2019). An Analysis of the Decline in Long-Term Study Abroad Participation Among Students at Elite U.S. Universities, with a Focus on Japan [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1556805857911929

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mason, Jr., Thomas. An Analysis of the Decline in Long-Term Study Abroad Participation Among Students at Elite U.S. Universities, with a Focus on Japan. 2019. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1556805857911929.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mason, Jr., Thomas. "An Analysis of the Decline in Long-Term Study Abroad Participation Among Students at Elite U.S. Universities, with a Focus on Japan." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1556805857911929

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1556805857911929
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.