Turning points and dialectical interpretations of immigrant experiences in the United States

This study examined immigrant socialization into the American culture using dialectical theory and turning point analysis. Using a revised version of the Retrospective Interview Technique (RIT) and questionnaire data, we asked 53 immigrants to the U.S. to recall turning point events since first arrival into this country. Following in‐depth questions about the turning point events, a questionnaire was administered that asked participants to rate six dialectical contradictions according to their importance for each turning point type. Turning point types identified tended to cluster around the issues of education, social relationships, cultural impressions, employment, travel, health and safety, and housing. Results from ratings of dialectical themes revealed that the openness versus closedness and predictability versus novelty themes were rated as significantly more important than other themes across all turning point types. Additional analysis revealed no significant differences among participants categorized into four different geographical areas, for ratings of affiliation to the culture or alienation from the culture.