Tuning in to fit in? Acculturation and media use among Chinese students in the United States

Abstract

This study approaches media use among international students from a uses-and-gratifications perspective to explore the relationship between need for acculturation, acculturative motives, and media use among Chinese students in the United States. Eighty-four Chinese students participated in a survey at a large research university in the Midwestern United States. Results indicate that need for acculturation is, in fact, correlated with media use motives and patterns. An acculturative motive, for example, is correlated with watching US-based TV news programs and using US-based news websites and BBS. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Acknowledgments

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2003 AEJMC Annual Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. The authors also would like to thank Dr. Ronald Faber for his helpful comments.