Internet use and sense of belonging among international students

BELONGING, WEB 2.0 AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

This work reports a study in which 24 international students were interviewed in a research initiative that seeks to understand how international students adjust to the host culture and specifically how use of the Internet or Web assist them with this integration process. This work conducts an extensive review of literature in this area of study and examines the theoretical framework of what it means to 'belong' to a country or location. Research questions asked in this study are those of: (1) What role does Internet technology (Web 2.0) play in the international student's development and maintenance of a sense of belonging in a new home country? (2) What role does length of residence play in the international student's development and maintenance of a 'sense of belonging' in a new home country? And (3) Are there any differences in the adaptation of the international student to the new home country when the individual is a high volume or a low volume user of the Internet? This study states findings and recommendations for future research.