2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Investigating student perceptions of multiculturalism and developing their intercultural communication competence
| Project/Area Number |
20K00899
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| Research Institution | Hosei University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | Acculturation strategy / Nationalism / Multiculturalism / National identity |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
According to several previous surveys in Japan, the Japanese youth unexpectedly show a nationalistic ethno-cultural homogeneous tendency by emphasizing cultural and ethnic uniqueness; this tendency also affected their assimilationist attitudes towards immigrants in their society. Therefore, the main object of this research is to investigate the Japanese young generation’s perception and attitude toward multiculturalism in Japanese society. To this end, this study measured their unique national identities and cultural traits and analyzed the current policies of multiculturalism in Japanese society. Then, it is explored how these variables impact Japanese students’ perceptions of and attitudes towards multiculturalism and immigrants in Japanese society. The young generation will be the vanguard of the multicultural society of Japan in the coming years. Therefore, it is essential to understand their perceptions of and attitudes toward multiculturalism in Japanese society. Through the analysis of the investigation, we will be able to predict the path of multiculturalism. Most of all, it would be a good guideline for making learning resources for multicultural education to promote students' intercultural communication competence. Furthermore, this study’s results can provide a foundation for developing suitable multiculturalism strategies for Japanese societies that recognize and promote the mutual well-being of both the minority and majority groups (i.e. immigrants and Japanese nationals).
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Based on the literature review and the foundation study for this research, the main survey was made up and carried out in 2021. Followed by the foundation study for this research, Japanese students show culturally exclusive attitudes and the most decreased support for multiculturalism. This similar tendency also shows in the Korean young generation according to previous studies. Many researchers state that it is related to their strong national and cultural identity. Japan and Korea have collectivist homogeneity but different national identities and cultural traits. In addition, there are some different how and by whom practice the policy of multiculturalism in their society. Therefore, to investigate how unique nationalism, cultural traits, and multicultural policies impact people’s perceptions and attitudes toward multiculturalism and immigrants, this study involved Korea as a comparison group.
The main survey in 2021 measured both groups' perceptions and attitudes towards multiculturalism by assessing several variables: acculturation preferences, attitudes towards social equity and equal opportunity, degree of national pride, nationalist/patriotic attitudes, attitudes towards international society, and factors that determined whether immigrants could be considered as fully-participating members of Japanese/Korean society. The data were collected from two different groups in 2021: group 1 comprised of university students in Tokyo, Japan (n = 194), and group 2 comprised of university students in Seoul, Korea (n = 194).
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In 2022, I will try to find the answers to the following questions: Why do Japanese and Korean students show the most decreased support for multiculturalism? Does it relate to their strong national identities, pride, and cultural traits? Regarding the facilitation of immigrants’ incorporation into mainstream society and the chosen form of multiculturalism to be implemented, what factors determine whether these students consider the immigrants as fully-participating members of Japanese and Korean society? To this end, I will analyze more deeply how unique nationalism and cultural traits and policies of multiculturalism impact people’s perceptions and attitudes toward multiculturalism and immigrants from the collected data through two surveys conducted in 2021 and 2020.
Analyzing multiculturalism’s current status, national identity, and cultural traits in society; and understanding the younger generation’s perceptions; attitudes toward multiculturalism and immigrants would be a great foundation to make suitable multicultural education programs for the students for the next research stage.
In 2022, I will focus on presenting and publishing some results from this research that has been conducted so far. Because of the COVID 19 circumstance, it was difficult to participate in and present a paper at conferences in 2020 and 2021. Therefore, in 2022 deep analysis of data and presenting papers at conferences will be focused.
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| Causes of Carryover |
From 2020 to 2021, under the COVID 19 circumstance, there were many limitations to practicing research activities. For example, even though my research papers were accepted from two international conferences in 2021, I could not attend them because of travel restrictions by the countries caused to the COVID 19 circumstance. I could present my paper through the online seminar in 2021. Therefore, in 2022, I would like to participate in international conferences and symposia actively. In addition, I would like to visit countries to collect data and resources for the next steps of this study.
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