Final Examination

EDUC. 318 – Comparative Industrial Education

TITLE: EXPATRIATE ADJUSTMENT WITHIN A SOCIAL CONTEXT:

EXAMINATION OF A SAMPLE IN RUSSIA

CLAUDINE D. DAYALO Dr. CLEO JUDE JUAQUIN

EdD. Student Course Facilitator

Abstract

The researcher provides first the definition of expatriate, and the people involve in the
research. The abstract or summary is clearly stated, and the result was discussed vividly. The
author freely presents their methods and results, as well as discuss their implications. The only
restriction is the number of words. A research abstract is written synopsis aptly reflecting the
contents of the article or presentation. The abstract corresponding the information presented base
on the statement the summarize and emphasized that the content of a research and based on data
already collected and analyzed.

Introduction

Here is the statement why the author conducted the study. “ The purpose of this research
was to explore expatriate adjustment by examining a range of coping resources, coping
responses, and adjustment outcomes.” Base on the statement the goal was to achieve a more
complete understanding of expatriate cross-cultural adjustment by examining adjustment in a
social context. Yes there are some information stated in the introduction. “Significant economic
and social costs are associated with the failed adjustment of expatriates. Tung (1982) defined
expatriate failure as an inability of the expatriate to perform effectively resulting in either being
fired or recalled home. Black (1992) extended the definition of expatriate failure to include
returning from an overseas assignment and subsequently leaving the company within a year of
repatriation”.
There is no statement can be found in the introduction.

Methods

The methods presented are clearly stated. The methods used are Sampling Procedure and
Sample Description. Participation was solicited from the expatriate community in Russia using
the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia Annual Membership Directory 2006. A total of
335 individuals and 130 businesses in Russia were solicited via email to participate in a web-
based survey. A total of 110 usable responses were received for a response rate of 23.7%. A 36-
item questionnaire was utilized in this study. In addition to demographic information the
questionnaire contained items that examined the dependent variable of general adjustment, the
independent variables of social resources, problem-focused coping support and emotion-focused
coping support, and the control variables of previous and current experience and language
ability.
This research used Black and Stephens’ (1989) 7-item general adjustment scale. This
scale asks respondents to “Please indicate the degree to which you are unadjusted or adjusted to
the following conditions”. Among others, conditions included items such as “Living conditions
in general”, “Housing conditions”, “Food”, “Shopping”, and “Cost of living”. Scale was used as
a measure of social support for coping behavior. It contains subscales for socioemotional support
and for instrumental support. The recent introduction of this scale offers the opportunity to
bridge extant research on support for coping behaviors with that of coping resources in the form
of social interaction. Factual items were used to measure both experience and language ability.
Experience items assessed both previous and current experience abroad.

Results
All findings are adequate and stated logically. The researcher carefully arrange the
data collected with corresponding interpretation. Preliminary data analysis consisted of
testing the internal reliability of scales using Cronbach’s alpha. The Index of Sojourner Social
Support (ISSS) Scale contains two multi-item subscales, one for socioemotional support and one
for instrumental support. Both the socioemotional subscale and the instrumental support subscale
of the ISSS had suitable internal reliabilities. The table presented were Correlation Matrix of
General Adjustment and Predictor Variables and Partial Correlations between Social Resources
and Socioemotional and Instrumental Coping Support. Base on the table it simple shows the
result and the data collected so in overall respondents in this study reported moderate levels of
adjustment to general living conditions. This is very helpful to understand the topic as an
expatriate there are some factors that we need to adjust in a place. The highest levels of
adjustment were reported for adjustment to food, housing conditions and general living
conditions. It simply means that there is an adjustment of our personality if we are new in place
in order to grow and survive.

Discussion
Base on the discussion there are some objectives that are meet and some are not. The
failure of this research to find a significant correlation between frequency of social contact and
adjustment is consistent some previous research findings, although previous findings are not in
universal agreement. Although important, the existence of a social tie between two people in a
social network does not necessarily equate to the provision of social support. Research on
expatriate adjustment has generally characterized a positive relationship between problem-
focused coping strategies and expatriate adjustment. One possible explanation of this study’s
indication of sub-group discrimination may relate to the adjustment strategies of respondents.
Expatriate adjustment strategies include the need to accommodate different cultures – that of
their own culture and that of the host nation. While expatriates may seek to achieve a balance
between competing orientations, it may be possible for expatriates to make a preferential
decision to favor one orientation. Several preferential positions are possible for the both the
individual expatriate and the expatriate community at large. The research examined expatriate
adjustment in a social context. It confirmed the correlation between quality of social contact and
expatriate adjustment. It also established the correlation between social support for both
problem-focused and emotionfocused coping responses and adjustment. These findings
contribute to the existing research base on the social dimension of expatriate adjustment.
Additionally, this research made unexpected findings on the existence of discrimination within
the expatriate community. These findings bring a new perspective to the multidimensionality of
expatriate adjustment; highlighting the need for future research to consider dimensions of sub-
group integration and adjustment within the overall cultural milieu faced by expatriates.

References
The following are reference cited in this research are given credits to the rightful owner.
Bhaskar-Shrinivas, P., Harrison, D. A., Shaffer, M. A. & Luk, D. M. (2004). What have we
learned about expatriate adjustment?: Answers accumulated from 23 years of research. Academy
of Management Proceedings, A1-A6. Birdseye, M. G. & Hill, J. S. (1995). Individual,
organizational/work and environmental influences on expatriate turnover tendencies: An
empirical study. Journal of International Business Studies, 26(4), 787-814.
The author did not cite there own work in the research paper. All the references are all
correspond to the formatting style. All references are applicable to chosen study, and it helpful to
discuss the content of this study.