A mixed-methods study of the impact of sociocultural adaptation on the development of pragmatic production

This study employs a mixed methods research approach to investigate the effect of sociocultural adaptation on the development of pragmatic production in a study abroad (SA) context. It focuses on the ability to produce pragmatic routines, and whether sociocultural adaptation experiences by learners of different cultural backgrounds predict pragmatic gains. Eighty-seven college students participating in SA programs in the US completed a pre-test and a post-test version of a sociocultural adaptation scale (SCAS) and of a written discourse-completion task (DCT) that measured their ability to use prototypical routines. Supplementary interviews to a subset of 2 students provided further insights on the nature of their adaptation experiences. A quantitative analysis revealed that sociocultural adaptation development had a partial effect on pragmatic gains, due to the mediation of learners' background culture, which had a direct influence on routine production. The qualitative analysis revealed individual trajectories that illustrated the interplay among sociocultural adaptation, background culture, and gains in production of pragmatic routines. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.