Journal of Intercultural Communication Research
Volume 48, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 4-20

Making American Friends: The Effects of Musical Tastes and English Proficiency on Chinese International Students’ Social Networks in the United States (Article)

Jia F.* , Koku E.
  • a Department of Communication, Drexel University, Communication, Culture and Media, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • b Department of Sociology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between Chinese international students’ social networks in the United States and their musical tastes. Based on concept of homophily, this study used a self-reported Social Network Analysis (SNA) survey to examine whether sharing similar musical tastes affected Chinese international students’ relationship, their musical tastes, and music consumption. The results showed that having high musical taste similarity predicted closer relationship between respondents and their alters, and higher likelihood of new music consumption. This study also found that frequent American English-language songs listeners were more likely to have Americans in their social network than less-frequent American English-language songs listeners. © 2018, © 2018 World Communication Association.

Author Keywords

International students homophily taste Social networks Music

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85057803472&doi=10.1080%2f17475759.2018.1549585&partnerID=40&md5=5b61eb7c18e7fa87f3a42779d80ce0da

DOI: 10.1080/17475759.2018.1549585
ISSN: 17475759
Original Language: English