Abstract

This project was designed to generate information relative to a specific intercultural communication situation, especially directed toward diversity between cultural expectation and performance in the following areas: first, Chinese expectation of American Latter-day Saint missionaries' performance in Chinese contexts; and second, performance of the missionaries, as reflected by their knowledge of proper conduct in Chinese contexts at the end of their missions.

Using Q-card sorting procedures and t-test analysis, an analytically developed instrument consisting of seventy statements grouped in six behavior categories was applied in the specific areas. Twenty-nine of the seventy statements showed significant diversity. Four of the hypothesized behavior categories proved to be statistically significant. These include, in descending order from the largest significance: "tradition", "language", "personal manners", and "personal space". Generally, the results indicate that missionaries are returning from Taiwan and Hong Kong with some cultural deficiencies which may interfere with effective personal communication. A program of ongoing cultural education designed for missionaries in these areas is suggested as a way to alleviate such deficiencies

Degree

MA

College and Department

Fine Arts and Communications; Communications

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

1974

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etdm147

Keywords

Intercultural communication, Mormon Church, Missions, Taiwan, Mormon missionaries, Training of, Hong Kong

Language

English

Download

Share

COinS