Leveraging acculturation through action research

Abstract

The demographic changes in contemporary American society portend serious consequences with far-reaching implications for the future development of the country. One of the more serious challenges is in the influx of refugees and new immigrants many of whom are not acculturating as easily as in the past. Unfortunately, the use of conventional research methods in studying acculturation has not yielded many actionable solutions to the adaptation problems, nor have newcomers been engaged as co-researchers. In this longitudinal study, action research approaches of participatory and community action research as well as action inquiry were used to identify the most pressing acculturation problems and also to engage the subjects (co-researchers) in proffering practical solutions to these problems. The results provide lessons for newcomers and resettlement agencies that are interested in promoting successful integration. The use of a variety of action research approaches for each of the three phases of this project illustrates the versatility of action research in different social contexts, especially in evolving situations with different social groups.

The Role of Acculturation in the Civic Engagement of Latino Immigrants

“…Nonetheless, continued racial and ethnic segregation of the Latino community hampers the civic engagement of Latino immigrants (Keidan, 2008;Massey, 2007;Massey & Denton, 1993;Moore & Pinderhughes, 1993;Pratt & Hanson, 1994;Putnam, Frederick, & Snellman, 2012;Sánchez-Jankowski, 2008;Sánchez Molina, 2008;Santiago & Galster, 1995;Wilson, 1978Wilson, , 1993. There is substantial evidence that race matters, and that racial discrimination impedes integration into American society (Félix, 2008;Fraga et al, 2010;Hernández-León, 2008;Okigbo, Reierson, & Stowman, 2009;Portés, 1997;Rivas-Drake & Mooney, 2009;Toussaint-Comeau, 2006;Waldinger, Lim, & Cort, 2007). Even when newcomers with visible physical differences from those of the dominant population of white Americans adopt behaviors of mainstream society, they may still experience social rejection in stores, restaurants, schools, housing, and employment, thereby increasing their chances of joining a racialized 'underclass' (e.g.…”

“…This segmented 'underclass' group consists of other racial minorities who have not fully integrated into mainstream society and often struggle with social and economic injustice (Wilson, 1993). When social interactions only transpire within these racialized minority groups, decision makers in the larger society do not hear their voices (Félix, 2008;Hernández-León, 2008;Okigbo et al, 2009;Portés, 1997;Rivas-Drake & Mooney, 2009;Toussaint-Comeau, 2006;Waldinger et al, 2007). Therefore, their interests are not adequately reflected in the decisions made and in the public goods created.…”

Photovoice as a Research Tool of the “Game” Along the “Balkan Route”

“…Letting participants take photographs, with only limited instructions, is a visual participatory research method called photovoice, developed by Wang and Burris (1997), and used by numerous scholars researching migration (Berman, Ford-Gilboe, Moutrey, & Cekic, 2001;Green & Kloos, 2009;Gilhooly & Lee, 2017;Lenette & Boddy, 2013;Okigbo, Reierson, & Stowman, 2009; Piemontese, Chap. 10, in this volume; Schwartz, Sable, Dannerbeck, & Campbell, 2007).…”

I think someone is walking with me: the use of mobile phone for social capital development among women in four refugee communities

“…In total, 31 percent of the ASRG (2011) respondents who did not access formal sources of help were thought to have enlisted the help of extended families in Australia. Studies have shown that peer-support relationships among refugee women themselves, using the resources within their community, can lead to better settlement outcomes and health improvement (Okigbo et al , 2009; Wollersheim et al , 2013).…”