The Acculturation Scale: A Study of Validity and Reliability

Abstract

Throughout history, people have migrated individually or en masse to different geographical locations for various reasons, such as war, natural disasters, economic factors, and others. When different cultures come into contact as a result of migration, individuals and communities undergo a process called acculturation, where their cultures influence each other, leading to a differentiation in the lives of both immigrants and host individuals compared to pre-migration periods. The purpose of this study is to adapt and validate Declan T. Barry's (2001) acculturation scale, known as the East Asian Acculturation Measure (EAAM), into Turkish. Barry's acculturation scale consists of six subscales (marriage, cultural traditions, language, social activities, friends, and music) based on four dimensions: assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to examine the construct validity of the scale, and the results supported the four-dimensional model as in the original scale. Correlation analysis between the acculturation scale and its subscales revealed statistically significant relationships. The significant correlation coefficient between the Acculturation Scale and its subscales indicates that the subscales measure similar structures. The analyses demonstrate that the original four-dimensional structure of the scale is valid and reliable in determining immigrants' level of acculturation.