Full Citation
Title: Impact of Language Fluence and Employment on Citizenship Attainment: A Quantitative Study
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2021
ISBN:
ISSN:
DOI:
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID:
Abstract: This study uses acculturation as a context to examine whether language fluency and employment predict citizenship attainment for U.S. immigrants. Given the statistics of migration from nonWestern countries in which English is not the primary language, continued study of language fluency and its influence on acculturation and citizenship attainment is critical. Researchers have explored what it takes to integrate and acculturate successfully into a destination country, how immigrant arrival age is related to education and later employment, and language as a barrier for immigrants who do not speak the language of their destination country. Given the gap in the literature regarding predictive relationships betweenlanguage fluency, employment, and citizenship attainment, the purpose of this study was to answer the following question: Do English language fluency and employment predict citizenship attainment? The current study is a quantitative, correlational study using a random sample. Archival data from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) was utilized for the current study. The dataset included 1 in 100 of all individuals who participated in the 2018 ACS and indicated in their response that they immigrated to the United States, resulting in 362,568 participants. Binomial logistic regression models tested the hypothesis that being employed and fluent in English will predict U.S. citizenship attainment. The model explained 6.0% of the variance in citizenship attainment and correctly classified 62.4% of cases. Although the overall model of evaluation indicated that the predictor is significant, rejecting the null hypothesis, the goodness-of-fit test failed to reject the null hypothesis, indicating that the variables language fluency and employment are not strong predictors of citizenship attainment. However, post hoc analyses show trends towards possible barriers to acculturation and citizenship attainment and suggest a need for continued research to further explore the trends seen in the data analysis of the study. For successful acculturation to occur, immigrants must feel accepted and a part of a community and country where they reside. Programs that focus on the daily struggles and barriers immigrants encounter can assist in finding solutions to those barriers. Assisting communities within the United States in accepting cultural differences can facilitate an open and welcoming country for everyone.
Url: https://www.proquest.com/docview/2616600380?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Dunn, EuGena
Institution: Capella University
Department:
Advisor:
Degree:
Publisher Location: Minneapolis
Pages: 1-142
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Education, Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Migration and Immigration
Countries: