THE FRIENDSHIP NETWORKS OF FOREIGN STUDENTS: A REPLICATION AND EXTENSION OF THE FUNCTIONAL MODEL*

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Abstract
The aim of this study was to replicate and extend the study of Bochner et al. (1977) which presented a functional model for the development of overseas student friendship patterns. Whereas Bochner et al. (1977) used only 30 Far Eastern foreign students and 6 host nationals in his Hawaian study, this study used 140 foreign students from each continent. Subjects were asked to specify various aspects (including nationality) of their three best friends, and also their preferred companion for each of a range of everyday situations. The friendship network data revealed a strong preference for co‐national friends first, other nationals second and host nationals third, while the preferred companion data showed co‐nationals first, then host nationals and finally ‘other’ nationals. The results closely match the results of Bochner et al. (1977) and provide further evidence for the functional model.

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