Making American Friends: The Effects of Musical Tastes and English Proficiency on Chinese International Students’ Social Networks in the United States

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the relationship between Chinese international students’ social networks in the United States and their musical tastes. Based on concept of homophily, this study used a self-reported Social Network Analysis (SNA) survey to examine whether sharing similar musical tastes affected Chinese international students’ relationship, their musical tastes, and music consumption. The results showed that having high musical taste similarity predicted closer relationship between respondents and their alters, and higher likelihood of new music consumption. This study also found that frequent American English-language songs listeners were more likely to have Americans in their social network than less-frequent American English-language songs listeners.

KEYWORDS:

• Social networks
• international students
• music
• taste
• homophily

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fei Jia

Mr.Fei Jia is a PhD candidate in Communication, Culture and Media at Drexel University. His research interests include popular music, media effects, mood management, identity, and consumer cultures. His current project focuses on music consumption and music streaming services. He has presented in several peer-reviewed academic conferences.

Emmanuel Koku

Dr.Emmanuel Koku is an Associate Professor with the Department of Sociology at Drexel University, Philadelphia. His current research examines the determinants of HIV risk in African and its diaspora communities, HIV risk networks, the lived-experiences of persons living with HIV in Africa and US, as well as the dynamics of learning and knowledge networks. His publications have appeared in a number of peer-reviewed journals including American Behavioral Scientist, the Global South, Journal of Community Health, Sexual Health, Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, Asian Ethnicity and the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.