Issa Aljubaili

Prof Russell Winfrey

9/26/17
UWRT 1102

Annotated Bibliography

1- Chavajay, P. "Perceived Social Support Among International Students at a U.s.

University." Psychological Reports. 112.2 (2013): 667-77. Print.

Comment: The article is good enough to be used in academic research study and the

reason for this is that the researcher Chavajay clearly outlines a research problem,

variables that may influence student achievement and he identifies the causal factors

such as family education, family income, parents criminal activity, and family structure.

Summary: This report examined the sources of social support among international

students in a university in the northeast of United States of America and the extent of

these sources of social support. The Index of Sojourner Social support scale was used to

get data for this data. International students from the university revealed that they

received more social and emotional support from other international students than from

the resident students. The data got also showed that younger international students

received and felt the need to be supported emotionally more than the older students or the

ones who have stayed longer in the foreign country. The study also points out the sources

of social and emotional support available to international students in the foreign country.

Chavajay, in the study, also discusses the vital roles played by different types of social

support. This support received assists, international students, to settle and make

adjustments depending on the country they are in and the cultural context. This journal as

reported that social support or lack of it plays a crucial role in students achieving their
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educational goals. Students who are supported emotionally and socially fell comfortable

in the foreign country hence they can perform better.

2- Lee, Jenny. "International Students' Experiences and Attitudes at a Us Host

Institution: Self-Reports and Future Recommendations." Journal of Research in

International Education. 9.1 (2010): 66-84. Print.

Comment: I think this journal article meets the requirements of an academic research

study. A research title is clearly provided, a research problem has also been provided

where the Lee and Jenny seek to determine the international students experiences at a

US university. The goal is outline problems and recommend solutions data is collected

and research findings are well stated.

Summary: This article analyzes experiences of international students at a US university

and how these experiences may influence their decisions not to recommend or

recommend other students from their home country to attend it. Data used in this journal

article was collected at a large public university in the southwest of United States via an

online survey. Most non-white students had more negative experiences especially due to

racial profiling and bullying. These feelings of unequal treatment both in school and

outside. White students too had their negative experiences that would make then not

recommend other students. These reasons include language barriers which make it hard

to communicate and culture shock which makes it hard to adapt quickly. International

students from English speaking states were not affected by language and expressed their

ease to contact other students. From the journal, African America students had the worst
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experiences due to racial profiling in the university and outside the university. From the

data collected, only a handful of international students have leadership positions in the

college although many of them revealed their interest in school leadership. Some students

also said they would refer their fellow countrymen to attend the US University because of

the good quality of education and infrastructure in the country.

3- Andrade, Maureen. "International Students in English-Speaking Universities."

Journal of Research in International Education. 5.2 (2006): 131-154. Print.

Comment: I think this journal article meets the requirements of an academic research

study. A research problem has been clearly outlined and the researcher seeks to determine

the problems that international students undergo while in English speaking universities.

The researcher clearly states that these students are significant economic contributors and

hence ought to be treated well. Research objectives, sample size and all other aspects of

research study are well the addressed.

Summary: Since international students in English-speaking countries make valuable

contribution both in terms of education and economically, this research stresses on the

issues that should be improved to support them. International students face a lot of

problems while in foreign countries hence the host universities should therefore be aware

of the problems these students face and address them to ensure the universities continue

benefiting from them. This report points out the aspects that affect adjustment and

academic achievement of these students. The main issue that affects international

students is language barrier as students from countries that do not speak English language

as their first language have problems communicating with the lecturers and their fellow
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 4

students. Understanding issues concerning adjustment of the international students will

help them achieve their goals and also contribute more economically. This article has also

discussed interventions and their implications on the international students. Among the

solutions that would help students from foreign countries to adapt better is providing

classes to those who are not proficient in English to improve their grammar and

communication skills and as a result they will be able to express themselves more clearly.

Another solution is to encourage them to embrace their culture even in the foreign

country.

4- Marks, Martha S. "Preparing International Students in the United States for

Reentering the Home Country." Journal of Multicultural Counseling and

Development. 15.3 (1987): 120-128. Print.

Comment: I think this journal article meets the requirements of an academic research

study. All aspects of a research project have meet met; a research problem, justification

of the study, hypothesis postulation, literature review and hence a meeting standard of a

research study. It is true that international students face challenges while blending in to

their native country and ways of helping them blend in should be formulated.

Summary: International students change significantly during their period of study in

America. Most of the student are stressed by their desire or lack of desire to return to

their home country. Most of the international students come from countries that have very

volatile economies which largely influence their desire to go back or not. International

students may prefer to remain in America as they do not to being a country with low

infrastructure while others are pushed to go back because of their desire to improve the
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 5

living conditions in their respective countries. There also very high expectations from the

parents and home country. These expectations put a lot of pressure on the student but this

problem may, be mitigated by counselling. Since the home country changes too, students

who want to go back to their countries are first are supposed to be aware of the problems

they may encounter while trying to readjust themselves and the possible solutions. The

author addresses these issues involved in preparing foreign students for the professional

and cultural adjustments they will have to make when the return to their home countries.

Workshops and seminars are encouraged to discuss the reentry problems that the students

may face.

5- Poyrazli, Senel, Philip R. Kavanaugh, Adria Baker, and Nada Al-Timimi. "Social

Support and Demographic Correlates of Acculturative Stress in International

Students." Journal of College Counseling. 7.1 (2004): 73-82. Print.

Comment: I think this journal article meets the requirements of an academic research

study. The researcher clearly outlines the research aim as to find out whether Social

Support and Demographic Correlates of Acculturative Stress in International Students,

the reseacrher then statistically sample the targeted population to a convenient sample

survey on which data is collected, analyzed and comes up with statistical results that

students who primarily socialized with non-Americans and that students from Asian

countries experienced more acculturative stress compared with other subgroups. Hence

an excellent research study.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 6

Summary: For this study 141 international students from different universities based in

America completed surveys about acculturative stress, demographic variables and social

support. Findings from the survey showed that proficiency in English contributed

significantly to varying levels of acculturative stress among the international students.

Results also students from Asian countries and students socializing with non-American

students experienced more stress than other international students. Other predictors

include age, gender and ethnicity. The main objective of the study was to analyze the

connection between demographic variables and acculturative stress. Other objectives of

the study were to understand the influence of ethnicity on stress levels and to examine

how proficiency in English and social support may reduce acculturative stress.

Acculturation stress is marked by deterioration of health of an individual including social,

physiological and psychological health. There different levels of acculturative stress

ranging from just mild stress which gradually worsens and the stress almost becomes

unbearable with time. Since international students have no close family or friends during

their first months of study, they may develop acculturative stress as they do not have

anybody to talk to. Asian and black international students are also more likely to develop

acculturative stress because of racial discrimination experienced and unequal treatment.

6- Manese, Jeanne E, William E. Sedlacek, and Frederick T. L. Leong. "Needs and

Perceptions of Female and Male International Undergraduate Students." Journal

of Multicultural Counseling and Development. 16.1 (1988): 24-29. Print.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 7

Comment: I think this journal article meets the requirement of an excellent academic

research study. The reason is very simple, the researcher has met all the requirements of a

research study, a research problem statement, and justification of the study and target

population, methodology, results and conclusion, at the end, hence fit as a research study.

Summary: The number of international students has continued to increase over the years

and it is expected that the number will rise. This article shows that it is projected that by

the end of the current century, the number of international students in United States will

be one million. This research article explores the need and perceptions of between the

two genders. The data for this study was collected at the University of Maryland, College

Park, where ninety-six undergraduate students filled questionnaires on their needs,

background and perceptions. The students used in the study were mainly from five

regions namely; Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle and Europe. The results from the

questionnaires showed that the female students were expected to have more problems in

their studying period than male international students. Females also reported that they are

easily discouraged hence are not able to follow their passions if they face a challenge.

Male international students on the other hand exhibited strong desires to follow their

dreams and they are more likely to become leaders than female students. Female students

from foreign countries also revealed that incase of challenge, they feel a great need to talk

to counselors or friends and receive different points of view while male students are less

likely to share their problems.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 8

7- Sumer, Seda, Senel Poyrazli, and Kamini Grahame. "Predictors of Depression and

Anxiety Among International Students." Journal of Counseling & Development.

86.4 (2008): 429-437. Print.

Comment: This journal article meets requirements of a research study. Effective

statistical research study components are well applied. The researchers seek to determine

the factors that impact depression and anxiety among international students. That is an

excellent research study, the target population here are international students and

effective statistical methods have been postulated in the project.

Summary: In this study, a total of 440 international students were examined. The study

was conducted in two universities in the eastern side of United States. Forty-percent of

the participant were female while the remaining fifty-seven percent were male. The age

of the international students who participated in the study were between eighteen and

forty-nine. From the results of the study, the author realized that social support was

directly related to anxiety and depression. The students who scored high marks on the

social support scored lower in on the depression and anxiety tests. The authors

recommend that counselling services be offered to international students to mitigate

depression and anxiety among them. These counselling services can be bilingual to

ensure that the student who are not proficient in English understand. This style may be

used to promote frequent use of counselling services while reducing the burden of stress

and anxiety in international students. Other programs such as host families and seminars

can also be used to provide smoother adjustment in students from foreign countries. More

experienced international students can also help the freshmen to adjust by providing
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moral and social support. Peer programs which include both international and American

students might serve as a great source of support and also increase interaction between

international students and those from America.

8- Lee, Jihye. "Education and Family in Conflict." Journal of Studies in International

Education. 15.4 (2011): 395-401. Print.

Comment: I must admit that this article really touched me and it is a good research

study. The researcher seeks to determine problems that pop up in families that have sent

some of their relatives to seek education in the international universities. Separation

comes in, financial problems and suffering and instead crisis result. An excellent research

problem supported with vivid research facts.

Summary: United States of America has offers the best quality of education and as a

result the number of international students has been increasing. The demand for high

quality of education has also increased because of the competitive job market. This

demand for high quality education has become a great source of family conflicts in South

Korea which results to broken families. Most international students from South Korea

come to study in United States at the expense of their families. When parent goes to study

in a foreign country, they are separated from their spouses and children for a long time

which weakens the family bonds. The spouses may end up separating in the long run due

to distance which takes a toll on the children. When children on the other hand are sent to

study in America, they may not feel the desire to go back to their home countries after
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graduation which makes the family devastated. A huge amount of money is required to

send international students to America because of the tuition and accommodation fee.

Those in charge of the finances suffer the most and the some families are forced to

sacrifice basic need to raise funds for the international students.

9- Flaitz, Jeffra, and Leslie K. Eckstein. Understanding Your International Students: An

Educational, Cultural, and Linguistic Guide. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan

Press, 2003. Print.

Comment: An excellent research study. The researchers seek to determine the role that

the culture and native language of the students play in the acquisition of knowledge with

an aim of ensuring effective teaching/learning of international students. International

students come from countries and continent sharing diverse culture and linguistic

backgrounds and its only via understanding them well that effective learning can be

ensured.

Summary: This research study is outstanding and as the author explains to the readers

the many differences that exist in different student from around the world. This articles

has surveyed the cultures of schools in countries that many international students in the

United States belong to. The main objective of the author of this article is to provide

encouragement and support for efficient cross-cultural problem-solving techniques. For

all the countries studies in this research the vital information is provided. This

information includes a deep summary of the school culture, statistical profile of the

students and a table containing the schools information. The schools information
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includes academic calendar, exams, performance of students, homework, examinations

and classroom set up. Another section of the study was dedicated to examining the

overall school setting including the educational policy, learning style. Student

relationships, discipline, management and ways of rewarding students. This information

about different countries will help the administration and lecturers of international

students to solve problems depending on their home countries school culture. As a

result, the international students will contented with ensure effective learning. The author

also gives guidelines of interacting with students from different regions while giving

possible solutions of problems that may arise in multi-cultured universities.

10- Yakushko, Oksana, M M. Davidson, and Tiffany C. Sanford-Martens. "Seeking

Help in a Foreign Land: International Students' Use Patterns for a U.s. University

Counseling Center." Journal of College Counseling. 11.1 (2008): 6. Print.

Comment: I believe that this journal is good for a research. This is because it has a well-

defined research problem which is the examination of university counseling centers

services by international students during a five-year period. The research variable are also

very well illustrated and they include the clients presenting concerns, the students

demographic characteristics, number of counselling sessions attended by each client and

specific reasons for termination of the guidance session for each specific client.

Summary: This study examined how international students utilized the counseling center

services provided by the school. In five years. The research was conducted in a US

university in the south because it has very high number of international students
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enrolling. The school provided email addresses and emails inviting them to an interview

were sent. Those who consented were interviewed, and results were obtained. For the

single international students, they expressed that they felt depressed and lonely especially

in their very first months in the foreign country. Homesickness and loneliness were the

main reason why international students in their first year of study decided to seek

guidance, but as time went by, they grew accustomed to the surrounding and gained

friends or got in a relationship. Married students also went to see guidance but mainly

because of lack of balance between education and family matters which made them

overwhelmed. From the study, more females than males felt the need to get counseling

while undergoing challenges. In the final years, most international students went to seek

guidance because of academic stress. Most of the students shared their academic

problems with their professors instead of the guidance and counseling officers.