Degree Date

2011

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The goals of the present research were to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a theoretically-derived acculturation measure specific to Korean-American immigrants, to replicate the results of an earlier study (Sung & Wozniak, 1999) suggesting that Korean immigrants may be characterized by two different patterns of relational family values, one traditional and one acculturated, and to relate results of the acculturation measure to family values patterns. A total of120 participants representing three different generational groups (1st, 1.5, 2nd) varying in age, socioeconomic status, and educational level were recruited from the local Korean immigrant population. Participants were seen individually in their homes and instructions and measures were given in the language of the subject’s choice (Korean or English). Measures included the Korean Acculturation Scale (KAS), composed of 32-item Acculturation and 8-item Biculturality subscales, a 52-item Relational Family Values Q-Sort (RFVQ), and a 14-item demographic questionnaire. Results indicated that the Korean Acculturation Scale (KAS) had excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability over a two-week interval. KAS Acculturation and Biculturality Subscale scores were generally found to relate in the expected direction to demographic variables. The RFVQ Q-factor analysis replicated the two-factor solution found by Sung and Wozniak (1999); and on the basis of patterns of factor loadings, three participant groups were identified. Group 1 included those loading positively and significantly only on the Acculturated Korean Family Values factor; b)Group 2 consisted of those loading positively and significantly on the Traditional Korean Family Values factor and variously on the Acculturated Korean Family Values factor; and c) Group 3 was composed of those loading positively and significantly on the Acculturated Korean Family Values factor and negatively and significantly on the Traditional Korean Family Values factor. KAS Acculturation Subscale scores were highest for Group 3, followed in order by Groups 1 and2. Although no statistically significant differences were found for Biculturality Subscale scores, there was a trend for Group 3 to be lowest in Biculturality. Groups differed in the expected direction with regard to demographic variables.

Comments

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