http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
Social adaptation among international students in an islamic university in Malaysia
International Islamic University Malaysia
Social adaptation extensively helps international students to catch-up socially and academically when in a new country. Several studies indicate the usefulness of social adaptation in settling at a new environment. In that regard, this study investigates the role of social support, social media usage and uncertainty reduction amongst international students at International Islamic university in Malaysia (IIUM). The study is guided by five objectives: (1) iTo imeasure the level of social media use and social support among IIUM international students, (2) To measure the relationships between social media use, perceived social support, uncertainty reduction and social adaptation among IIUM international students, (3) To measure the relationship between uncertainty reduction and social adaptation among IIUM international students, (4) To determine the mediating role of uncertainty reduction in the relationship between social media usage and social adaptation, and (5) To determine the mediating role of uncertainty reduction in ithe association between social support and social adaptation. This research uses uncertainty reduction theory to provide the research result with quantitative method as its research approach. The data is collected by using questionnaire to 385 respondents in IIUM, Gombak campus. Findings show, that there is a significant importance of social media and social support towards social adaptation of international students. Uncertainty reduction is found to be partially mediating the relationship of social media usage, social support and social adaptation. Based on a review of ithe literature on international students' cultural adaptation, this study accords to the importance of uncertainty reduction, social support and social media among international students in better social adaptation. This study offers general but not complete support for uncertainty ieduction theory as it is extended to the social and intercultural adaptation context. It can be concluded that when uncertainty is reduced, there is improved social adaptation process. Hence, making the use of uncertainty reduction theory (URT) relevant to this research.
"A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human Sciences in Communication." --On title page.
Thesis (MHSCM)--International Islamic University Malaysia, 2020.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-80).