Login

Research at
Gallaudet University
2005 - 2006

Acculturation and the Acceptance of Deafness Among Asian and Asian-American Deaf and Hard of Hearing People in the U.S.

Status: Ongoing Begin date: Sept, 2003 End date: No set date

Description

This is a doctoral research project for George Washington University that seeks to study the experience of deaf and hard of hearing people of Asian backgrounds. The study is primarily focused on interrelationships. It looked at the correlation between the independent (acculturation to Asian culture) and dependent (acceptance of deafness) variables. The researcher also wanted to see what similarities and differences existed between immigrants and non-immigrants (American-born) in their acculturation experiences and journeys towards greater self-acceptance and what other variables predicted these outcomes. Scores from adapted versions of the Asian Values Scale and Suinn Lew-Asian Self-Identity Acculturation and the Deaf Acculturation Scale and Deaf Cultural Identity Scale were correlated with scale scores from the Acceptance of Deafness Scale. Scale scores from the AVS and SL-ASIA were correlated with scale scores from the DAS and DCIS. As a secondary research design, analyses of variance were conducted to determine if demographic variables such a) immigration status, b) age upon arrival in the U.S., c) number of years in the U.S., d) type of educational program attended, e) highest educational level, f) gainful employment status, and g) gender predicted acculturation to Asian hearing culture, American Deaf culture, and acceptance of deafness. These analyses allowed the researcher to study how these variables have impacted the results of his study and therefore offer alternate explanations.

Investigators