American Experience: Information Seeking Behavior of Immigrants from Russia and Ukraine with Regard to American Culture

ABSTRACT

This study examines information-seeking behaviors of immigrants from Russia and Ukraine living in a medium-sized city in the Southeastern United States. Qualitative research methods included focus group meetings, semi-structured in-depth interviews, and a Photovoice project. Participants shared what information they needed to adapt to the American culture, where they looked for this information, and what barriers they experienced. The findings showed that immigrants sought everyday life information and information about the local culture, used interpersonal communication and online media as primary sources of information, and reported more co-ethnic interaction and communication with Americans than their compatriots in larger cities.

KEYWORDS:

• Acculturation
• information seeking
• immigrants from Russia/Ukraine
• American culture
• Southeastern United States

Notes

1 According to Batalova and Zong (2015), 62% of Russian immigrants and 52% of Ukrainian immigrants have college degrees (para. 25).

2 These areas have the highest concentration of Russian-speaking immigrants (approximately 2 million) in the country (Liebert, 2010).

3 In addition to the Northeast and Northwest, the Midwest has a significant presence of FSU immigrants - “3% to 7% of the population” (Baker, 2016, p. 369). The exact city is not indicated in Baker’s study, but in the Procedure section, she mentions that participants were recruited through Russian groceries, Russian-language newspapers, Russian-speaking physician offices, etc. This points to the presence of a large Russian-speaking community.

4 In this specific instant, the focus is on the connection between Christmas and family. In the USSR, religious holidays were not allowed to be observed openly, and the New Year was celebrated instead, often with friends and colleagues.