Adjustment Problems of Malaysian Students at Western Michigan University
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Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 12-1984 Adjustment Problems of Malaysian Students at Western Michigan University Suradi Salim Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Counseling Commons Recommended Citation Salim, Suradi, "Adjustment Problems of Malaysian Students at Western Michigan University" (1984). Dissertations. 2410. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2410 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AD,JUSTMENT PROBLEMS OF MALAYSIAN STUDENTS AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY by Suradi Salim A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Department of Counseling and Personnel Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan December 1984 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS OF MALAYSIAN STUDENTS AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY Suradi Salim, Ed.D. Western Michigan University, 1984 The purpose of this study was to identify and examine the adjustment problems encountered by Malaysian students enrolled at Western Michigan University. The study also attemptect to determine if there were significant differences in the adjustment problems among respondents in the various variables and sub-groups identified. The following demographic and personal data, and patterns of sor.ial integration were treated as independent variables: Age; Sex; Marital status; Academic classification; Setting of home residence; Duration of stay in the u.s.; Major field of study; Financial spon- sorship; Entry qualiftGation; Work experience; English language proficiency; Frequency of interaction with American students, non- Malaysian foreign students and Malaysian students; Participation in activities organized by student organizations or Office of Inter- national Student Services; Religious services attendance; Types of residence; and Frequency of counsulting advisors, international student counselors or student counselors. The instrument chosen for the survey was the Michigan Inter- national Student Problem Inventory (MISPI) developed by John Wilson Porter in 1962 and revised in 1977. Nineteen null hypotheses were tested. Significant differences were determined by the .One-way and Two-way Analysis of Variance and Scheffe procedures. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The major findings of the study were: (1) Malaysian students at Western Michigan University identified Financial Aids and English Language areas as the two most serious problem areas, with Academic Advising and Records. Living and Dining, Social-personal, Health Services, Orientation Services, Admission and Selection, Placement Services, Student Activities, and Religious Services following respectively. (2) Male students and students who had work experience experienced more problems in the Financial Aids area. (3) Under graduate students, students from rural backgrounds, government sponsored students, students with HSC/MCE entry qualification, students who interact less frequently with American students, students who interact more frequently with Malaysian Etudents, students who attended reli~ious services two or more times a week, and students who obtained low TOEFL score were having more difficulties in the English Language area. (4) Students who interact more frequently wlth Malay sian students and students who participate in activities organized by MSO and other organizations two or more times a semester reported experiencing more problems in the Academic Advising and Records area. (5) The involvement of Malaysian students in various activities whether on or off campus was limited and generally, Malaysian students interact more frequently with fellow Malaysians than with Americans or other international students. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. 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These prints are available upon request from the Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases the best available copy has been filmed. University MicrOfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 8505197 Salim, Su radi Bin ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS OF MALAYSIAN STUDENTS AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY Western Michigan University Eo.D. 1984 University Microfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml48106 '· Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation could not have been completed without the assistance and cooperation of several people to whom I am indebted. To Dr. John Geisler, advisor and chairperson, I would like to express my appreciation for the guidance and assistance throughout the duration of my study. To Dr. Thelma Urbick and Dr. Robert Wait, for th~~r willingness to serve as members of my committee and their interest and assistance in completing the research. To my children, Hadi, Johar, and Shamsul, and especially my wife Norma, for their support, encouragement, understanding and patience - which gave me constant strength. Suradi Salim ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . ii LIST OF TABLES • . vi CHAPTER L THE PROBLEM . 1 Problems Malaysian Student Encounter Overc~as •• 2 Need For The Study 5 Statement of the Probl3m • . 8 Research Questions • • • . 10 Limitation of the Study 12 Assumptions .•. 12 Definitions of Terms . 13 Organization of the Report 14 II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 0 0 16 Introduction • • . • . • 16 . General Factors Influencing Adjustment Problems of Students •.•••••• 17 Adjustment Problems of International Students As a Group. 31 Adjustment Problems of Internatior.al Students From Specific Country or Region .•••••• 41 Research Using the Michigan International Student Problem Inventory • . • • • • . • • • • • • 49 Studies of Adjustment Problems of Malaysian Students .•••• 62 Summary . 66 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) CHAPTER PAGE III. PROCEDURES 67 Population and Sample . 67 The Instrument For Data Collection 69 Validity and Reliability of the Instrument •• 71 Dependent Variables ••• 73 Independent Variables •. 73 Hypotheses . .. 82 Collection of Data • . 85 Analysis of Data • . 86 IV. PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA . 87 Introduction 87 Demographic Data and Patterns of Social Integration • • • • • . • • . 87 Identification of Problem Areas as Reported by Respondent. 103 Comparison Between Sub-Groups 122 v. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 161 Introduction • • • • • • 161 Summary of Findings 163 Conclusions 178 Discussions 180 Recommendations . 185 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) APPENDICES A. Materials Sent to Students 197 B. Letter to Dr. John w. Porter • . 207 C. Response