David Comp

International Higher Education Consulting

http://ihec-djc.blogspot.com/
http://international.ed.consulting.googlepages.com/internationalhighereducationconsulting

© 2008 David J. Comp

A Theory on Students Compatibility with a Host Family While Studying Abroad

Foreign (+)
Foreign Language
Language

(+)
PriorTravel
Prior Travel

(+) (+)
Age
Age Maturity

(+)
(+)
Compatibilit
Adaptability Compatibility
S With
Host
Host
Family
Interest Family
Interest

(-)
HomeSick
Home
Sick

HomeContact
Home
Contact

(+/0)
LengthofofStay
Length Stay

C HIGH
O
M 0
P
A
T +
I
B
I
L LOW
I
T
Y SHORT LONG
LENGTH OF STAY

Propositions

1. The greater one’s proficiency in a foreign language (same as host family), the greater one’s
compatibility with a host family. This foreign language proficiency will facilitate easier
communication between the student and the host family, which in turn will increase
compatibility. This is a positive, linear relationship.

2. The greater the number of prior international/intercultural travel experiences one has
experienced, the greater one’s compatibility with a host family. Increased number of
international/intercultural travel experiences a student has experienced will increase the
compatibility with a host family because they enjoy such experiences. This is a positive,
linear relationship.

3. The greater one’s age, the greater one’s level of maturity. The older a student is the more
mature behaviors they will display in the host family living environment. This is a positive,
linear relationship.

3. The greater one’s age, the greater their ability to adapt to an intercultural experience. Students
will be able to adapt much easier to an intercultural experience the older they are. This is a
positive, linear relationship.

4. The greater one’s maturity level, the greater one’s compatibility with a host family. Students
who display mature behaviors will be much more compatible with a host family than students
who demonstrate immature behaviors. This is a positive linear relationship.

5. The greater one’s ability to adapt to an intercultural experience, the greater one’s
compatibility with a host family. The ability to adapt to an intercultural experience will have
a direct impact on a student’s compatibility with the host family. This is a positive, linear
relationship.

Contingency factor for proposition 5

5a. The higher one’s interest in an intercultural experience, the stronger the relationship
between adaptability and compatibility.

6. The more one experiences home sickness, the less one’s compatibility with a host family. As
students become more homesick they will not be as compatible with their host family because
they want to be back home and not on their study abroad experience. This is a negative,
linear relationship.

Contingency factor for proposition 6

6a. As the amount of contact from friends and family back home decreases, the stronger
the relationship between homesickness and compatibility.

7. The length of stay of a study abroad experience is related to one’s compatibility with a host
family. From a short length of stay to a moderate length of stay the relationship is positive.
However, from a moderate length of stay to an extended length of stay there is no
relationship. This is a curvilinear relationship.