Contrasting experiences in Japanese returnee adjustment: Those who adjust easily and those who do not

This study examined how returnees who experienced more adjustment difficulties (Bumpies) differed from those who experienced fewer (Smoothies). Three open-ended items from 512 returnees¹ were analyzed. Ward et al.’s [Ward, C., Bochner, S., & Furnham, A. (2001). The psychology of culture shock. East Sussex: Routledge] adjustment model was used as the theoretical framework for this study.Prior to examining the open-ended items, preliminary analyses were conducted to confirm that these two groups, in fact, differed from each other in their returnee experience. Results suggested that one function, which we named “Lack of Acceptance,” differentiated the two groups; Smoothies felt more accepted by others compared to Bumpies.In the next stage, the open-ended questions related to the items that loaded significantly on the function identified by the discriminant analysis were coded and analyzed. Results suggested that the two groups’ experiences were similar in some respects (e.g., being stereotyped as a returnee, language-related problems) and different in others (e.g., Smoothies felt more accepted by others compared to Bumpies, Bumpies reported more incidents of discrimination and bullying). Results underscored Ward et al.’s [Ward, C., Bochner, S., & Furnham, A. (2001). The psychology of culture shock. East Sussex: Routledge] assertion that adjustment is a result of a two-way interaction between individual and societal variables.     

Effect of inclination and position of new swimming starting block's back plate on track-start performance

This study investigated the effects of both anterior–posterior position and inclination of a back plate positioned on a starting platform on swimming start performance. Ten male college swimmers performed eight starts with varying combinations of take-off angle (normal and lower), inclination angle (10°, 25°, 45°, and 65°) and position (0.29, 0.44, and 0.59 m from the front edge of the starting block). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA; take-off angle × back plate) for four conditions with take-off angles (normal and lower) and inclinations (10° and 45°), and one-way ANOVA for comparisons between four inclinations and three positions were carried out. Multiple comparisons were made using Bonferroni's method. The main effects of the take-off angle were on the vertical and resultant take-off velocities [F(1,18) = 36.72, p < 0.001 and F(1,18) = 9.58, p = 0.013, respectively]. Comparisons between the plate positions showed that the 5 m time of the 0.29 m condition was significantly longer, the take-off angle and vertical take-off velocity of the 0.59 m condition were significantly lower, and horizontal and resultant take-off velocities of the 0.29 m condition were significantly less. Rear foot take-off times were significantly longer in the ascending order: 0.29, 0.44, and 0.59 m.