The urban adaptation and adaptation process of urban migrant children: A qualitative study

Abstract

This article employs qualitative research methods to explore the urban adaptation and adaptation processes of Chinese migrant children. Through twenty-one in-depth interviews with migrant children, the researchers discovered: The participant migrant children showed a fairly high level of adaptation to the city; their process of urban adaptation emerged as three categories: the U-Type, the J-type, and the “flat line” type. Also explored were long-term acquisition of explicit behaviors, implicit notions, adaptation to the socio-cultural environment, and success in education as difficult aspects of adaptation. After comparing these three processes, the research team developed a theory of migrant children urban adaptation. It hypothesizes that during the urban adaptation process, migrant children will encounter four stages of development: excitement and curiosity, shock and resistance, exploration and adaptation, and finally integration and assimilation.

摘要

本研究采用质性方法对中国流动儿童城市适应状况及过程进行了探讨。 通过对21名流动儿童的深度访谈发现: 受访流动儿童城市适应状况较好; 流动儿童城市适应过程呈现三种类型: U型、 J型、 水平线型; 长期习得的外显行为、 内隐观念、 人文环境和学习成绩是几个较难适应的维度。 在对三种适应过程比较后, 提出了流动儿童的城市适应过程理论: 流动儿童在城市适应过程中会经历四个发展阶段: 兴奋与好奇、 震惊与抗拒、 探索与顺应、 整合与融入。