The Iu Mien: The Acculturation Process of Iu Mien High School Students A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University by Joe Kaonai Liow in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education May 2013 © Copyright 2013 Joe Kaonai Liow. All Rights Reserved This Ed.D. Dissertation Committee from The School of Education at Drexel University certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: The Iu Mien: The Acculturation Process of Iu Mien High School Students Joe Kaonai Liow Committee: ____________________________________ José L. Chávez, Ed.D. ____________________________________ W. Edward Bureau, Ph.D. ____________________________________ Salvatore V. Falletta, Ed.D. ____________________________________ Date Abstract The Iu Mien: The Acculturation Process of Iu Mien High School Students Joe Kaonai Liow, Ed.D. Drexel University, May 2013 Chairperson: José L. Chávez, Ed.D. This quantitative research study examined Iu Mien high school students of one high school in the Sacramento Valley for possible connections between their acculturation level and academic achievement to address the following research questions: 1. What impact does the degree of acculturation have on the academic success of the Iu Mien high school student? 2. What are appropriate instructional practices to assist Iu Mien high school students? This research study utilized two established Likert-type self-rating surveys to address research questions one (East Asian Acculturation Measure, EAAM, Barry, 2001) and two (Culturally Responsive Beliefs and Practices of General and Special Education Teachers Implementing Response to Intervention in Diverse Elementary School, RCELD, Robinson, 2010). Thus this quantitative research study provided the opportunity to triangulate student acculturation level, cumulative GPA, and learning environment conducive to multicultural education. The research study identified four main findings: 1) The Iu Mien high school students rated themselves as being integrated, 2) The instructional faculty felt that they have implemented relevant multicultural education to support RCELD student needs in the following areas: Effective school-wide and classroom academic differentiated intervention pedagogy, and effective school-wide collaboration, 3) The school is participating between pervasive tolerance and pervasive acceptance level of multicultural education (Nieto, 2004), and 4) The cumulative assessment of the three previous finds indicated that there were no significant differences between Iu Mien students classified as being assimilated and integrated. iv Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to my dear mother Nailiw Saephan (10/12/1952 – 8/18/2010), who passed away during the second year of this doctoral program. May you rest in peace knowing that I have completed my highest attainable education. To my wife Nai X. Saechao from whom I look to for inspiration, support, understanding, and the much needed guidance both in life and in academia. For my children Christopher Liow, Nicholas Phan, and Michelle Phan, I hope to make you proud and perhaps serve as your inspiration to stride and put forth your best effort to accomplish your endeavors in life. For my in-laws, Vern X. Saechao and Liewlin Saephan, I don’t how to express to both of you my deepest appreciation and love for your continuous and unconditional support in my education and life endeavors. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do both for me personally and for our family. I hope to make you proud as your son-in-law as I am proud to be yours. Thank you! v Acknowledgments To Dr. José L. Chávez, I appreciate your dedication and commitment to assisting and grabbing me by the hand and take me somewhere that I or most Iu Mien have never been before. But, most of all, for willing to be my dissertation committee chair and professor as you have provided me the much needed advice, guidance, and counseling. Thank you. To Dr. Salvatore V. Falletta, I want to thank you both for being my professor and committee member especially, for so willingly accepting the responsibility to serve on the committee without any reservations. To Dr. W. Ed Bureau, thank you for recognizing the potential in my ability to effectively participate and complete this doctoral program and being my professor, program director, and fatherly figure. I thank you for the much needed guidance and counseling that you have provided me the past three years. As you were the one consistent voice that said “come on pick up the pace,” “let me pick you up,” “let me take your hand,” “I know I’m dragging you but I want you to be called Dr. Liow,” and with that, shoved me forward to this joyful day. To my Drexel University Sacramento campus inaugural cohort members, I thank you for your kind support, encouragement, and inspiration during the past three years, for you have given me the opportunity to learn with you and from you. Lastly, I would like thank Principal Felisberto Cedros for your support and granting me permission to conduct my research at your school. Additionally, Vice- Principal Kal Phan, thank you for the much needed assistance that you have provided me. To the instructional staff, I appreciate your willingness to assist me with my study especially during the last week of the school year. Thank you Dr. Rebeka Hagerty, Garden City Unified research department, for providing me with the much needed vi student data and support. Most importantly, a BIG THANK YOU to the Iu Mien students of the class of 2012 for allowing me to learn from your experiences. Finally, thank you to the Iu Mien parents for allowing me to learn from your children and from you. Please know that without you and your continuous support this dissertation would not be possible and without you, there can be none. vii Table of Contents ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. x LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ xi 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH .................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem to be Researched .................................................................. 2 Purpose and Significance of the Problem ...................................................................... 3 Research Questions Focused on Solution Finding ........................................................ 4 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................. 4 Definition of Terms ....................................................................................................... 8 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ............................................................. 12 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 13 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 14 Introduction to Chapter 2 ............................................................................................ 14 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................... 14 Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 15 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 39 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 41 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 41 Research Design and Rational ..................................................................................... 42 Population and Site Description .................................................................................. 43 viii Research Methods ....................................................................................................... 47 Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................. 51 4. FINDINGS AND RESULTS ...................................................................................... 52 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 52 Findings ....................................................................................................................... 53 Results and Interpretations .......................................................................................... 83 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 89 5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................... 93 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 93 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 95 Recommendations ......................................................................................................