Comparative Analysis of Cultural Values on Table Tennis: A Qualitative Study Among Chinese and American Graduate Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the cultural values attached to table tennis by American and Chinese graduate students. Through semi-structured interviews, students’ experiences and attitudes on table tennis were explored (N = 6). The results showed that Chinese students associated table tennis with entertainment, accessibility, socialization, popularity, national pride, and satisfaction. American students expressed feelings of inclination, entertainment, competitiveness, marginalization, and dissatisfaction toward the sport. These values were shaped by both physical and virtual experiences, with media acting as a bridge to distant narratives of the sport. The findings of this study aid in fostering a mutual comprehension of the cultural values associated with table tennis, as perceived by college graduate students from both nations.

Keywords

ping pong cross-culture qualitative research attitudes beliefs

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