Changes in Usage and Niche Expansion regarding Online Communication among Long–term Overseas Internship Participants

Abstract

This paper investigated two Japanese college students who joined long–term overseas internships, examining attitude construct based on their usage and purpose of online communication using PAC (Personal Attitude Construct) analysis. The results showed that participants expanded their range of online communities from friends and families back in Japan to other adults and foreign acquaintances and their purpose of online communication changed from chats to achieving joint goals with others. The results showed that they secured their ties and niches (ibasho) through online communication and blended into university life smoothly upon return to Japan. The results also showed that one student who felt uneasy about face–to–face communication also felt uneasy about communicating online, suggesting the need for improved administrative support and business training to enhance online communication manners.