Predicting Study Abroad Intentions Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract

The emphasis on study abroad programs is growing in the academic context as U.S. based universities seek to incorporate a global perspective in education. Using a model that has underpinnings in the theory of planned behavior (TPB), we predict students’ intention to participate in short‐term study abroad program. We use TPB to identify behavioral, normative, and control beliefs pertinent to the study abroad context. Our research model hypothesizes that intention is predicted by affordability, willingness to pay, and desire. Moreover, willingness to pay is explained by future job prospects, family expectations, and administrative support. We believe that the elements of TBP are reflective of categories of factors that have been demonstrated as important in the context of short‐term study abroad decisions, but that have not been included in previous studies applying TPB to a study abroad context. We test our research model through a survey of 254 undergraduate business students at a southern U.S. university, and find support for all our hypotheses. Results from our study aid in the understanding of students’ decision‐making process to participate in a short‐term study abroad program and have implications for education and learning in the study abroad context. We also contribute to the extant research in TPB by applying it to the context of studying abroad programs and by identifying, and finding support for, a mediated relationship between beliefs and intentions.

Examining the Motivations and Barriers Influencing the Decisions of Louisiana State University College of Agriculture Freshmen to Participate in International Experiences

“…To modify existing programs and design future programs effectively, it is important to evaluate students' perceptions and preferences of international experiences and predict their intention to participate in an IE (Schnusenberg et al, 2012;Van Hoof & Verbeeten, 2005).…”

“…While limited financial capital can negatively impact students' intent to participate in an IE, the actual decision to not participate in an IE cannot be predicted by students' financial means (Ludwig, 2007;Salisbury et al, 2009). Low cultural capital and lack of family or administrative support can also influence students' intent to participate in an IE (Salisbury et al, 2009;Schnusenberg et al, 2012;Stroud, 2010).…”

“…Today's world is home to diverse societies that are participating in a global economy, where future generations of students must be prepared to enter a culturally integrated workplace (Schnusenberg, de Jong, & Goel, 2012). Over the past decade, universities in the United States (U.S.) have increased time and financial investments put toward internationalizing their curricula, particularly in efforts to increase students' participation in international experiences (IEs) (Childress, 2009;Parsons, 2010;Van Hoof & Verbeeten, 2005).…”

“…As suggested in the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program (2005), participation in an international experience (IE) should become the norm for college students, rather than the exception. This campaign to encourage involvement in IEs among U.S. college students is based on the postulation that participation assists students in developing the skills necessary to succeed in today's global workplace (Childress, 2009;Parsons, 2010;Schnusenberg et al, 2012). In previous research studies, students who participated in an IE demonstrated (a) greater global awareness and a more developed global mindset (Parsons, 2010), (b) increased cultural awareness and higher acceptance of diverse culture groups (Childress, 2009;Parsons, 2010), (c) increased skills in communicating and working with people of cultures different from their own (Ludwig, 2007;Parsons, 2010), (d) higher levels of confidence and self-efficacy when working in unfamiliar situations, and (e) international networking that was beneficial to their careers (Childress, 2009;Parsons, 2010).…”

11 Short-term study abroad: motivations, expectations and experiences of students of Aalesund campus

“…It is well documented that a large proportion of students in general view study abroad in positive light (Relyea et al, 2008, Schnusenberg et al, 2012. From this survey, the mean value of the construct attitude is 5.83 while intention has the lowest mean of 3.26 (table 1).…”