從 1950到 1960年代，有三千多位臺灣人曾經接受美國政府邀請赴美訪問。本研究找到十四位曾寫下當時訪美見聞或回憶錄者，來探究當時他們訪美的經驗，並分析他們如何解讀美國文化？美國政府邀訪目的是否達成？ 本文認為，以國家宣傳而言，美國政府之邀訪大致是成功的。將臺灣受邀者所描述的美國形象，與當時美國政府對海外宣傳的自我形象相對照，發現差異不大。臺灣訪客參訪回來之後，多半對美國懷有正面印象。不過，臺灣訪客觀察美國會受到自身的文化背景與經驗的影響，因此他們解讀美國社會、文化有時會產生曲解或誤解。

Some three thousand Taiwanese visited the United States through various U.S. educational exchange programs from 1951 through 1970. These programs were aimed at promoting knowledge and confidence in American political, economic and cultural institutions and foreign policy among people in Taiwan. Many people wrote about their experiences during and after their visits, some accounts even got published. The U.S. Government expected that Taiwanese “leaders” or “experts” would come to understand “American way of life” by their visits and that through their writings and speeches they would publicize their experiences in the United States among the Taiwanese people. In terms of public diplomacy, the educational exchange practice worked well for the U.S. Government. Many Taiwanese visitors had positive images of America from their visits and their images of America were similar to the self-images of the US that the American information officials promoted overseas. But, Taiwanese visitors viewed American society through the refracting lenses of their own cultures and of their own immediate purposes.