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ARTICLES

Intercultural Interaction at a Multicultural University: Students' Definitions and Sensemakings of Intercultural Interaction

Pages 304-324 | Published online: 20 Oct 2010
 

Abstract

This essay examines how racially or ethnically different students define, make sense of, and evaluate intercultural interaction at the multicultural university. Eighty qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with university students of varied backgrounds. These interview sessions access students' definitions, sensemakings, and experiences of on-campus intercultural interaction as it has played out in their lives. The findings demonstrate that interviewees equate intercultural interaction with being present in demographically diverse settings. Moreover, this study reveals that definitions and sensemakings of intercultural interaction vary among interviewees primarily based on their racial or ethnic background. Latino/a, Black/African American, White/European American, and Asian American interviewees define and make sense of intercultural interactions in culturally specific ways and in relation to their historical experiences.

Acknowledgements

She wishes to thank the reviewers for their helpful feedback.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rona Tamiko Halualani

Rona Tamiko Halualani is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at San José State University, USA

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