The Intercultural Competence of the Ghanaian and Nigerian Students in Joensuu (Finland) Essay

This section explains the design of the research defining the sampling procedures, instruments for data collection and procedures for processing the data.

3.2 Research Design

The critical point of the accomplishment of a research project is based on its methodical preparation and execution. A research design should draw attention to issues about how, why, where and when of the research study. The focus of this project is education and intercultural relations. It is the study of how international African students specifically the Ghanaian and Nigerian students in Joensuu (Finland) try to establish intercultural relations whilst settlingin in the host country. The appropriate research design chosen is a case study. It involved the evaluation of the following

the nature of the communication between the Ghanaian and Nigerian students, the indigenes and other nationals

The nature of curricular elements and institutional policies implemented to enhance communication skills and intercultural competence.

By so doing, the study documented communication barriers and intercultural relations problems the students encountered such as racial abuse, prejudice, stereotyping, negative perceptions, misunderstanding of facial expressions, body language, gestures and symbols among others. Consequently, the study established whether these international students experiences abroad aid them in acquiring communication skills needed to work effectively on the Global market.

The appropriateness of the research design is outlined by Kumekpor (1999100). According to him, The case study method is appropriate in situations where solutions or decisions are sought for individual persons [groups of people] or issues or the basis of circumstances peculiar to them rather than imposing general solutions, or decisions or applying general regulations or principles. Case studies are also used to correct, verify, devise or reevaluate information, knowledge, existing estimates, decisions, policies, attitude and views on specific issues, situations, etc.

Furthermore, Kumekpor (1999) explains that by choosing a case study as a research design for ones research, an investigator could easily understand a social situation in order to suggest practical solutions relating to the case in question. Shepard, Jon Robert W. Greene (2003) are of the view, a case study is a research method involving a detailed investigation of a single individual or a single organized group. Yin (2009) sees it as a research strategy which is an empirical inquiry into a phenomenon.

It is noted here that although there are a number of research strategies, the case study was chosen as the most appropriate.

3.3 Population

The target population included International African students from Ghana and Nigeria studying in schools of higher learning in Joensuu (University of Eastern Finland ).The population were Ghanaian and Nigerian Students of the aforementioned countries studying in higher institutions in Joensuu, University of Eastern Finland to be specific.

To gain a perfect picture of the study, all international students from Ghana and Nigeria studying at the University of Eastern Finland should have been included in the respondents to the questionnaires to gather data. However, it was not possible to do so due to time constraints and limited resourses, therefore a sample of the population was chosen.