Discussion: Cross-Cultural Adaptation Within the Bioecological Systems Theory

Having respectively detailed in Chaps. 4, 5 and 6 the findings from the Chinese doctoral students’ (CDS) experiences of planning, implementing, and reflecting phases, it is the time to place these findings into a theoretic framework for further analysis and synthesis in order to have a systematic and enlarged picture of the cross-cultural adaptation (CCA) process by CDS in Australia universities. The selected theoretic framework, as mentioned in the first three chapters, is the bioecological systems theory put forward by Bronfenbrenner. This chapter will tackle three crucial issues in relation to this theory. The first is applicability. In other words, is it applicable to use this framework to analyse the findings revealed so far? The justification will be made to answer why this framework is chosen. The second is feasibility. What could be the outcome if the findings are analysed in accordance with the principles established by the framework? The presentation of the analysis will demonstrate the validity of the framework. The third is flexibility. By actually analysing the data, any limitations which might hinder a sufficient exploration will be identified. In other words, the framework will be evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in analysing the CCA process by CDS.

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