Mainland Chinese students’ cross-cultural adaptation to Hong Kong: Some methodological issues to consider

Mainland Chinese students (MCSs) represent the largest non-local student group in Hong Kong. MCSs, with their shared Chinese heritage with Hong Kong, differ from foreign students, but distinguish themselves from local students in cultural, economic, and political backgrounds due to socio-historical factors (Yu & Zhang, 2016). Research suggests that they undergo similar levels of adaptation difficulties as do other foreign students in Hong Kong (Yu et al., 2021). However, their adaptation experiences in Hong Kong have remained largely under-researched.
This paper discusses some key methodological issues that researchers need to consider when they conduct research investigating MCSs studying in Hong Kong. The current paper addresses which research designs may be best applied to examine MCSs’ adaptation in Hong Kong and describes the potential concerns that researchers face when they seek to unpack what are often sensitive issues. We explore the use of the mixed-method design that allows the triangulation of the data findings from both quantitative validated scales and qualitative techniques. We demonstrate how each informs the research to extend our understanding of this important context. Finally, the paper reflects on the researchers’ positioning with the data, and how such positioning may shape the different research stages (e.g., the data collected, the analysis of the data and the reporting of the results). Examples from a preliminary study that was conducted in 2022 will be used.