Factors affecting the cultural information needs of Chinese migrant workers and their role in the acculturation: A descriptive framework

Abstract

Migrant workers have a need for information about their home culture. These cultural information needs are affected by several factors. Qualitative data from a survey of 168 Chinese migrants, and qualitative data from 20 semi-structured interviews, yielded insights into the nature of these factors and of their influence on the migrants' acculturation. Findings indicate that psycho-cultural factors have the most influence on cultural information needs, followed by human capital factors, social interaction factors, and living situation factors. These findings suggest that the cultural information needs of migrant workers are linked to the workers' capability for cultural integration. Further discussion explores the role of cultural information in helping to enhance migrant workers' fluid identity and emotional resilience, as well as creating harmonious intergroup relationships, achieving social integration, and facilitating intercultural interactions. A theoretical and conceptual framework is proposed to help bridge the gap between studies of migrant information needs and of acculturation theory, and to increase understanding of the underlying links between information needs and cultural issues relating to migration.