| Benefiting from prior studies in acculturation of immigrants, cross-cultural research, the meanings of possessions and family identities, the current research seeks to understand cultural differences in Chinese possessions, meanings of goods marketed based on their use value, and the role of possessions in Chinese immigrants' acculturation. Photo-elicited depth interviews are conducted with Chinese families in the U.S. Qualitative data processing generally benefits from Wolcott's (1994) three-step formula. A hermeneutical framework is taken to guide data analysis and interpretation. Comparative analysis and grounded theory are also consulted to guide the analysis so as to make the results more beneficial for theory development. Themes emergent from data analysis suggested theoretical concepts tied to a transnational family lifestyle. A theoretical model of the transnational family lifestyle is proposed based on the findings. It is in the place of the kitchen and through the meanings embodied in kitchen possessions that the transnational family lifestyle is enacted, reflecting a negotiation of family identity that is forged between two cultures. |
