Survey on Cross-Cultural Adaptation and AI Usage Among International Students in China

Dear international Students，
Hello!
Thank you for participating in this questionnaire survey. This study aims to explore international students' experiences during cross-cultural adaptation, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI) technology usage. Completing the questionnaire will take approximately 10-15 minutes.
Additionally, follow-up surveys may be conducted in the future, which require matching participants’ registration IDs across different phases. Thus, you need to log in before filling out this questionnaire. If you agree, we will contact you again to complete follow-up surveys at a later time.
All data will be collected anonymously and used exclusively for aggregate statistical analysis. We will strictly protect your privacy and ensure no personal information is disclosed. Your valuable experiences and genuine feedback are crucial to this research. Thank you for your time and support for scientific research!
Part 1: Demographic and Background Information
1.Your age.
2.Your gender.
请选择
3.Your nationality / region.
4. How long have you been living in China?
请选择
5.Which university do you attend?
请选择
6. Your field of study.(For medical majors, please select your specific discipline in detail)
7.Main Teaching Language.
8. Your Academic Year.
Part 2: Language Proficiency and Previous Experience
9. How do you rate（evaluate） your everyday Mandarin communication skills？（1= Very unskilled 5= Very skilled）
10. What is the highest HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) level you have obtained?
11. Before coming to China, have you ever lived continuously in another country or region for more than 3 months?
Part 3: Cultural Intelligence (CQ)
Instructions: Please evaluate the degree to which the following descriptions match your actual situation. (1= Completely Does Not Match, 7= Completely Matches)
Metacognitive CQ 4 items
  • Completely Does Not Match
  • Mostly Does Not Match
  • Somewhat Does Not Match
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat Matches
  • Mostly Matches
  • Completely Matches
12.I am conscious of the cultural knowledge I use when interacting with people with different cultural backgrounds.
13.I adjust my cultural knowledge as I interact with people from a culture that is unfamiliar to me.
14.I am conscious of the cultural knowledge I apply to cross–cultural interactions.
15.I check the accuracy of my cultural knowledge as I interact with people from different cultures.
Cognitive CQ 6 items
  • Completely Does Not Match
  • Mostly Does Not Match
  • Somewhat Does Not Match
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat Matches
  • Mostly Matches
  • Completely Matches
16.I know the legal and economic systems of other cultures.
17.I know the rules (e.g., vocabulary, grammar) of other languages.
18.I know the cultural values and religious beliefs of other cultures.
19.I know the marriage systems of other cultures.
20.I know the arts and crafts of other cultures.
21.I know the rules for expressing non-verbal behaviors in other cultures.
Motivational CQ 5 items
  • Completely Does Not Match
  • Mostly Does Not Match
  • Somewhat Does Not Match
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat Matches
  • Mostly Matches
  • Completely Matches
22.I enjoy interacting with people from different cultures.
23.I am confident that I can socialize with locals in a culture that is unfamiliar to me.
24.I am sure I can deal with the stresses of adjusting to a culture that is new to me.
25.I enjoy living in cultures that are unfamiliar to me.
26.I am confident that I can get accustomed to the shopping conditions in a different culture.
Behavioral CQ 5 items
  • Completely Does Not Match
  • Mostly Does Not Match
  • Somewhat Does Not Match
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat Matches
  • Mostly Matches
  • Completely Matches
27.I change my verbal behavior (e.g., accent, tone) when a cross-cultural interaction requires it.
28.I use pause and silence differently to suit different cross-cultural situations.
29.I vary the rate of my speaking when a cross-cultural situation requires it.
30.I change my non-verbal behavior when a cross-cultural situation requires it.
31.I alter my facial expressions when a cross-cultural interaction requires it.
Part 4: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage
Instructions: Please reflect on your actual usage of generative artificial intelligence tools (e.g., ChatGPT, GenMI, Claude, DeepSeek, etc.) over the past three months, as you strived to better adapt to life and study in China. Based on your real-life experience, please select the option that best describes your situation. (1=Never, 7=Always) 
Cognitive
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Seldom
  • Occasionally
  • Frequently
  • Usually
  • Always
32. I use AI to query or explain local cultural customs, social rules, or etiquette that I am not familiar with.
33. I use AI to help me understand the cultural background knowledge involved in classroom learning or academic literature.
34. I use AI to translate and interpret the cultural connotations or implied meanings behind language (rather than just literal translation).
35. I use AI to obtain multi-perspective interpretations of local history, current affairs, or social hot topics.
Instrumental
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Seldom
  • Occasionally
  • Frequently
  • Usually
  • Always
36. I use AI to solve daily life problems (e.g., checking transportation information, understanding procedures, drafting emails).
37. I use AI to help me plan local social events, trips, or cultural activities.
Interactional
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Seldom
  • Occasionally
  • Frequently
  • Usually
  • Always
38. Before attending social events, I use AI to simulate possible conversation scenarios or practice ways of expression.
39. When I feel confused about certain social cues (e.g., body language), I turn to AI for analysis and advice.
40. I use AI to help me figure out how to make requests or express different opinions appropriately in cross-cultural situations.
Emotional
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Seldom
  • Occasionally
  • Frequently
  • Usually
  • Always
41. When I feel lonely or anxious due to cultural differences, I talk to AI for comfort and psychological support.
42. I use AI to reinterpret the difficulties or negative experiences I encounter in cross-cultural interactions from a more positive perspective.
43. I share my experiences and feelings in the new environment with AI, treating it as a low-risk outlet for expression.
Part 5: Trust in Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Instructions: The following questions are about your trust in the generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT , Gemini, Claude ,Perplexity , DeepSeek etc.) you use to adapt to living and studying in China. Please rate your level of agreement with each statement based on your actual experience. (1 = Strongly Disagree, 7 = Strongly Agree)

Functionality
  • Strongly Disagree
  • Disagree
  • Somewhat Disagree
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat Agree
  • Agree
  • Strongly Agree
44. I believe that when I consult AI about Chinese social and cultural norms (e.g., etiquette and customs), it can provide accurate and useful information.
45. I believe AI is capable of helping me analyze the confusions I encounter in local social interactions and providing practical suggestions.
46. I believe AI has the knowledge and functions needed to help me cope with cross-cultural adaptation challenges.
Reliability
  • Strongly Disagree
  • Disagree
  • Somewhat Disagree
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat Agree
  • Agree
  • Strongly Agree
47. I believe AI can give reliable and consistent answers to the questions I raise about cultural adaptation.
48.When I consult AI about similar adaptation difficulties multiple times, I believe its responses are coherent and consistent.
49. I believe AI can consistently provide support for my cross-cultural adaptation whenever I need it.
Benevolence
  • Strongly Disagree
  • Disagree
  • Somewhat Disagree
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat Agree
  • Agree
  • Strongly Agree
50. I feel that when AI responds to my adaptation-related questions, its primary goal is to help me integrate better into the new environment.
51. I believe that when interacting with me, AI takes into account the unique difficulties I may face as an international student.
52. When I feel helpless with adaptation issues and turn to AI for help, I believe it can provide sincere and supportive responses.
Part 6: Sociocultural Adaptation
Instructions: Please reflect on your experience living in China. For each of the following aspects, how easy or difficult do you find it to adapt? (1 = very difficult , 7 = very easy)
标题
  • Very difficult
  • Moderately difficult
  • Slightly difficult
  • Neutral
  • Slightly easy
  • Moderately easy
  • Very easy
53.Climate (temperature, rainfall, humidity).
54.Natural environment (plants and animals, pollution, scenery).
55.Social environment (size of the community, pace of life, noise).
56.Living (hygiene, sleeping practices, how safe you feel).
57.Practicalities (getting around, using public transport, shopping).
58.Food and eating (what food is eaten, how food is eaten, time of meals).
59.Family life (how close family members are, how much time family spend together).
60.Social norms (how to behave in public, style of clothes, what people think is funny).
61.Values and beliefs (what people think about religion and politics, what people think is right or wrong).
62.People (how friendly people are, how stressed or relaxed people are, attitudes toward foreigners).
63.Friends (making friends, amount of social interaction, what people do to have fun and relax).
64.Language (learning the language, understanding people, making yourself understood).
Part 7: psychological adaptation
Instructions : Please reflect on the past two weeks. How frequently have you experienced each of the following feelings or emotions? (1=Never, 7= Always)
标题
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Seldom
  • Occasionally
  • Frequently
  • Usually
  • Always
65.Excited about being in [host country].
66.Out of place, like you don’t fit into [host country] culture.
67.A sense of freedom being away from [home country].
68.Sad to be away from [home country] .
69.Nervous about how to behave in certain situations.
70.Lonely without your [home country] family and friends around you.
71.Curious about things that are different in [host country].
72.Homesick when you think of [home country] .
73.Frustrated by difficulties adapting to [host country].
74.Happy with your day-to-day life in [host country].
Part 8: Social Support
Instructions: Please evaluate the degree of agreement with the following statements based on your actual situation during your stay in China.(1=Strongly Disagree, 7=Strongly Agree)
  • Strongly Disagree
  • Disagree
  • Somewhat Disagree
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat Agree
  • Agree
  • Strongly Agree
75. I receive the emotional support and assistance I need from my family.
76. My friends really make an effort to help me.
77. There is a special person in my life who cares about my feelings.
The questionnaire is now completed. Thank you sincerely for your patient filling and valuable contributions!

Your answers are crucial to our research. We wish you all the best in your life and studies in China!
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