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Doctoral Dissertation Defense
of
Krittika Chatterjee Grau

For the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy
Higher Education Administration

A Qualitative Study of International Students' Experiences with American Pop Culture

March 28, 2025
9:30–11:30 A.M.
Read Room, White Hall 200

A Qualitative Study of International Students' Experiences with American Pop Culture

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how consumption of American pop culture such as TV shows, movies, books, music, food, fashion, theater, and sports impacts the transitions of international students from their home countries to host countries. Additionally, I endeavored to understand whether engagement with American pop culture influenced participants’ host country choice. 

The methodology used was Clandinin and Connelly’s (2000) narrative inquiry—three-dimensional narrative inquiry space. In this study, 12 first- and second-year undergraduate, international students, from 12 countries and six continents, pivoted backward and forward, and inward and outward, to reflect on the impact of American pop culture on their transitions and choice of host country for their higher education. Additionally, photovoice (Wang & Burris, 1997), was incorporated as a method to supplement participants’ narratives through photographs. 

The theoretical frameworks providing a foundation for this study were Schlossberg’s Transition theory (2008) and Ward et al.’s ABC model of culture shock (2001). Semi-structured interviews were used to guide participants to recollect their experiences with American pop culture. Polkinghorne’s (1995) Analysis of Narratives (paradigmatic mode of analysis) was used to analyze the data. 

The findings suggest that engagement with American pop culture was a key factor in the transition process for international students— from facilitating positive outcomes such as helping participants learn about U.S. culture and making friends, to more destructive effects such as shaping perceptions of racism and the police in the U.S. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for practice and future research.