Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Abstract

Increased globalization has heightened the demand for culturally competent leaders within the agriculture, food, and natural resource (AFNR) sectors. While higher education institutions frequently utilize study abroad programs to address this need, cultural immersion does not automatically yield positive outcomes. Without effective cognitive processing, students may reject unfamiliar norms and revert to previously held biases or stereotypes. Guided by the Processing Value Judgments Model, this phenomenological case study utilized semi-structured interviews to examine how differing levels of pre-departure preparation influenced the information processing filters of three female students during an eight-week cultural immersion experience in Morocco. Findings reveal a dual-pathway model for intercultural adaptation: a student's readiness to navigate cultural differences is shaped by the combined influence of formal pre-departure training and prior international experience. While intensive formal training provides robust cognitive scaffolding, substantial prior cross-cultural exposure can function as a highly effective alternative pathway to mitigate cultural retrenchment. Conversely, limited preparation combined with a lack of prior experience hinders adjustment. This study provides actionable recommendations for AFNR educators and Extension professionals to move beyond standardized orientations by explicitly tailoring pre-departure pedagogy to a student's baseline cross-cultural experience.

Keywords: Cultural competence, cultural immersion experience, pre-departure orientation, information processing filters

How to Cite:

Anderson, J. C., II, Foote, T., Holder, M. & Kanchewa, E. J., (2026) “A Phenomenological Approach to Understanding How Pre-Departure Orientation Impacts the Use of Information Processing Filters: A Case Study of a Cultural Immersion Experience in Morocco”, Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education 33(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/jiaee.20815