A mixed-methods study of the impact of sociocultural adaptation on the development of pragmatic production

Abstract

Abstract: This study employs a mixed methods research approach to investigate the effect of sociocultural adaptation on the development of pragmatic production in a study abroad (SA) context. It focuses on the ability to produce pragmatic routines, and whether sociocultural adaptation experiences by learners of different cultural backgrounds predict pragmatic gains. Eighty-seven college students participating in SA programs in the US completed a pre-test and a post-test version of a sociocultural adaptation scale (SCAS) and of a written discourse-completion task (DCT) that measured their ability to use prototypical routines. Supplementary interviews to a subset of 2 students provided further insights on the nature of their adaptation experiences. A quantitative analysis revealed that sociocultural adaptation development had a partial effect on pragmatic gains, due to the mediation of learners’ background culture, which had a direct influence on routine production. The qualitative analysis revealed individual trajectories that illustrated the interplay among sociocultural adaptation, background culture, and gains in production of pragmatic routines.