AbstractsEducation Research & Administration

This thesis aimed at exploring the understandings, experiences, and relationships inside the Saudi family circle that influence some of its members' study-abroad educational experiences. A case-study design was used as a methodological approach, and two Saudi families participated in this study. Within each family, a study-abroad member was also included as a participant. In both families, the decision to study abroad was influenced greatly by the father. In the first family, there was a noticeable financial support, the student felt more connected to female members, and his self-dependence grew while being abroad. The second family showed a great appreciation of the technologies used to communicate with the study-abroad member, their support depended on the position inside the family, and their level of education influenced the study-abroad member. This is a pilot study that reveals important characteristics about the Saudi family in relation to Saudi study-abroad students.