Modeling Immigrant Language Acquisition and Integration Toward an Integrated Micro-Macro Modeling

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Modeling Immigrant Language Acquisition and Integration Toward an Integrated Micro-Macro Modeling

Yoshimiko Owaki

Dissertation submitted to

the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Université Libre de Bruxelles &

the Department of Political Science of the LUISS Guido Carli

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

This dissertation was written within the framework of

the GEM Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate program under the co-supervision of Professor Assaad Azzi (ULB) & Professor Lorenzo De Sio (LUISS)

Academic Year 2016-2017

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Abstract

This thesis aims to address the following key question: “What affects immigrants to acquire capital and how is it generated?” This can be addressed by the following: (1) identifying micro-level determinants of immigrant language acquisition and integration; (2) assessing macro-level effects and micro-macro joint effects on immigrant language acquisition; and (3) reassessing the overall empirical findings based on theoretically derived micro-macro interactive mechanisms in the integration process.

The research literature concerned with the determinants of immigrant/second language acquisition is reviewed to bring classic theories and models from economics and psychology together and initiate the construction of an economic-psychological modeling frame for immigrant language acquisition.

Based on the modeling frame, an empirically testable model of immigrant language acquisition is formulated to identify the determinants of destination language proficiency. Furthermore, conceptually locating immigrants’ integration outcomes as the consequences of their language acquisition in a theoretical modeling framework, a model of immigrant integration is devised with three sub-models: (1) a model of immigrant economic integration; (2) a model of immigrant citizenship acquisition; and (3) a model of immigrant political integration. The models are tested using OLS regression and data from the Multicultural Democracy and Immigrants’ Social Capital in Europe: Participation, Organisational Networks, and Public Policies at the Local Level (LOCALMULTIDEM).

Analysis results suggest that the economic model is robust in predicting immigrant language acquisition and integration outcomes. Educational attainment is found to be the most critical and consistent predictor of outcomes across cities and empirical models. Although the psychological model has relatively weak power in explaining the variation in language proficiency, the presumed mediating effect via attitudinal factors is detected in some cases. However, such mediation effect is barely identified in the sub-models of immigrant integration with an exception of political integration.

Destination language proficiency is found to be the most consistent mediator that positively influences all of the integration outcomes. In the concluding chapters, further analyses and (re)interpretations are conducted as an overarching summary of the multivariate regression analyses to examine the role of institutions and propose a micro-macro integrative model that could suggest options for institutional design and directions for future research.

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Table of Contents

Abstract...i

Dedication...ii

Table of Contents...iii

List of Tables...viii

List of Figures...ix

Chapter 1. Introduction...1

1. The Problem...1

2. Major Concepts & General Orientation...5

2.1. Language...5

2.2. Language Acquisition...7

2.3. Integration...10

2.4. Macro Perspective: Language and Integration...11

2.5. Micro Perspective: Language and Integration...14

2.6. Economics and Psychology in Language Acquisition and Integration...17

2.7. Universalism and Particularism in Language Acquisition and Integration...22

3. Objectives & Research Questions...25

4. The Plan...26

Chapter 2. Foundations for Modeling Immigrant Language Acquisition & Integration...28

1. Introduction...28

2. Modeling Strategy...28

3. Economic View on the Determinants of Immigrant Language Acquisition...29

3.1. Theoretical Background...29

3.1.1. Economics of Language...30

3.1.2. From Theory to Empirical Research: “Bridge Hypotheses”...32

3.1.3. Macro-Level and Micro-Level Determinants of Immigrant Language Proficiency...33

3.2. Hypothesis Development...35

3.2.1. Micro-Level Determinants...35

3.2.1.1. Educational Attainment (economic incentives, efficiency, and exposure)...35

3.2.1.2. Age at Migration (efficiency, exposure, economic incentives)...36

3.2.1.3. Migration Motives (economic incentives and efficiency)...37

3.2.1.4. Length of Stay in the Host (exposure)...39

3.2.1.5. “Family” Characteristics (exposure)...39

3.2.1.6. Settlement Intentions (economic incentives)...41

3.2.2. Macro-Level Determinants...42

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3.2.2.1. Exposure to Destination Language prior to Migration (Country of Origin Effect: exposure)

...42

3.2.2.2. Linguistic Distance (Country of Origin-Destination Effect: efficiency)...43

3.2.2.3. Geographic Distance (Country of Origin-Destination Effect: economic incentives and efficiency)...44

3.2.2.4. Social Distance: “Neighborhood” Characteristics (Country of Destination Effect: exposure) ...45

4. Psychological View on the Determinants of Second Language Acquisition...46

4.1. L2 Motivation Research...47

4.1.1. Phase 1: The Social Psychological Period (1959-1990)...47

4.1.2. Phase 2: The Cognitive-Situated Period (during the 1990s)...49

4.1.3. Phase 3: The Process-Oriented Period (from 2000)...52

4.2. Hypothesis Development...53

4.2.1. Developing an Economic-Psychological Modeling Frame for Immigrant Language Acquisition...53

4.2.2. L2 Motivational Self System...54

4.2.3. Adding Cognitive/Personality Factors...56

4.2.4. Transforming the Initial Economic-Psychological Modeling Frame...58

Chapter 3. Modeling Immigrant Integration...61

2. Modeling Strategy...62

3. Modeling Process...64

3.1. Step 1: Developing a Model of Immigrant Economic Integration...64

3.1.1. Human Capital Approach...64

3.1.2. Hypothesis...65

3.2. Step 2: Developing a Model of Immigrant Citizenship Acquisition...65

3.2.1. Dual-Pathway Model of Collective Action...66

3.2.2. Applied Dual-Pathway Model of Immigrant Integration...67

3.2.3. Models of Naturalization...69

3.3. Step 3: Developing a Model of Immigrant Political Integration...70

3.3.1 Social Capital Approach...70

3.3.2. Intermediary Hypothesis...73

3.3.3. Three-Process Model of Social Influence...74

3.3.4. Application of the Three-Process Model of Social Influence...75

Chapter 4. Data & Methods...78

1. Data...78

1.1. Overview...78

1.2. Cities...78

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1.3. Sample...79

1.4. Measures...83

1.4.1. Independent Variables...83

1.4.2. Control Variables...85

1.4.3. Dependent Variables/Mediators...85

1.4.4. Description of Variables...90

2. Methods...92

2.1. Overview...92

2.2. Justifications for the Methodological Choice: LPM vs. Logistic Regression...92

Chapter 5. Determinants of Immigrant Language Acquisition...99

1. Modeling Immigrant Language Acquisition...99

1.1. Introduction...99

1.2. Two Views of Immigrant Language Acquisition...100

1.2.1. Economic View...100

1.2.2. Psychological View...101

1.3. Hypotheses...102

2. A Model of Immigrant Language Acquisition...103

2.1. Model...103

2.2. Measures...104

2.3. Analysis...106

2.4. Results...107

2.5. Discussion...110

Chapter 6. Determinants of Immigrant Integration...113

1. Introduction: A Model of Immigrant Integration...113

2. A Model of Immigrant Economic Integration...114

2.2. Model...115

2.3. Measures...116

2.4. Analysis...118

2.5. Results...119

3. A Model of Immigrant Citizenship Acquisition...125

3.2. Model...126

3.3. Measures...127

3.4. Analysis...128

3.5. Results...129

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4. A Model of Immigrant Political Integration...136

4.2. Model...138

4.3. Measures...139

4.4. Analysis...141

4.5. Results...141

Chapter 7. Macro Effects on Immigrant Language Acquisition...150

2. Theoretical Framework: Political Opportunity Structure...150

3. Hypotheses...153

4. Analysis & Interpretation...155

4.1. Cultural Requirements to Access the Community and Immigrant Language Acquisition...157

4.2. Provision of Destination Language Programs and Immigrant Language Acquisition...159

4.3. General Institutional Opportunity Structure and Immigrant Language Acquisition...161

4.4. Macro and Micro Determinants of Immigrant Language Acquisition...162

4.5. Assessing a Big Hypothesis...165

Chapter 8. Toward an Integrated Micro-Macro Modeling...168

1. Background...168

2. Modeling Plan...171

3. Modeling Process...172

3.1. The First Issue: The Individual and the Social System...172

3.1.1. Base Model: Structure of a Social Influence Situation...174

3.1.2. Transforming the Base Model...175

3.1.3. Transformation Tool: Coleman’s Boat...176

3.1.4. Transformed Model and its Application...177

3.1.5. Reinterpreting Empirical Results...179

3.1.6. Designing a Micro-Macro Modeling Scheme...180

3.2. The Second Issue: Economics and Psychology...182

3.2.1. Base Matrix: Patterns of Personal Involvement in the National Political System...183

3.2.2. Redesigning the Base Matrix...184

3.2.3. Creating an Internal Process Model of Motivation...185

3.2.4. Reconceptualizing ‘Integrativenss’...188

3.2.5. Toward a Model of Immigrant Language Acquisition and Integration...189

3.3. Micro-Macro Interactive Modeling Exercise...190

3.3.1. Determinants of Social Influence...190

3.3.2. Redesigning the Micro-Macro Modeling Scheme...191

3.3.3. Operationalizing the Internal Process Model of Motivation...192

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3.3.4. Analysis & Interpretation...194

4. Conclusion: An Unfinished Model...196

References...200

Appendix I: Measures...1

Appendix II: Descriptive Statistics of All Variables...1

Appendix III: Determinants of Immigrant Language Acquisition...1

Appendix IV: Determinants of Immigrant Integration...1

1. Determinants of Immigrant Economic Integration...1

2. Determinants of Immigrant Citizenship Acquisition...12

3. Determinants of Immigrant Political Integration...23

Appendix V: Summary Scores of Institutional Opportunity Structures...1