A Proposal for a New Interactive Space to Improve the Sense of Belonging of Chinese Students in the U.S. College Environments

Li, Songyue

Savannah, Georgia: Savannah College of Art and Design

2021-05

Thesis (M.F.A.) -- Interior Design

Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Interior Design

Includes bibliographical references (pages 58-62) and glossary.

Appendix includes three surveys and interview questions.

"As an essential human motivation, belonging needs to be constantly sought out and maintained (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Maslow, 1957). However, Chinese students have great difficulties gaining a sense of belonging in a different cultural environment in the United States, which affects their quality of study and life. The lack of sense of belonging of Chinese students is largely due to the lack of connection with local students and society. Therefore, this thesis aims to build social capital between Chinese and American students, rather than integrate themselves into the campus and local society by assimilation and struggle with cultural suicide. This study explored the current situation of Chinese students' sense of belonging, the social preferences of the two groups, and the communication difficulties between the two groups. This thesis used a focal group, surveys and interviews to research. More common topics and experiences, and understanding of other cultures, need to emerge between the two groups to solve the problem. Dining is the most frequent activity among the gatherings of the two groups. The study used four implications for design to design a prototypical 'in campus dining and interactive space' to accommodate 18- to 26-year-old Chinese and other college students in the U.S. The prototype helps to solve Chinese students' difficulty in establishing connections with local students and their communication needs and gradually upgrading the communication dimension, constantly stimulating the sense of connection, sense of collective, self-perception, and sense of cultural identity." --Abstract

*Keywords: Chinese students in U.S., interactive space, sense of belonging, social capital

CHAIR: Navarro, Ricardo

Abuin, Ernest

Edwards, Sheila

English

Interior Design

Text

1 online resource: 1 PDF (Thesis, 76 pages, color illustrations, plans, graphs, charts)

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