Business Students' Choice of Short-Term or Long-Term Study Abroad Opportunities |
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Authors: | Stacey R Fitzsimmons |
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Institution: | 1. Haworth College of Business , Western Michigan University , Kalamazoo , Michigan , USA stacey.fitzsimmons@wmich.edu |
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Abstract: | Recent years have seen a proliferation of short-term study abroad opportunities. Although they are both supplementing and replacing semester-long study abroad programs, research has focused primarily on semester (long-term) programs. We draw on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explore factors that predict why students choose long-term and short-term programs. Results indicate that students perceive more social pressure to engage in short-term programs, and higher barriers limiting participation in long-term programs. All TPB factors significantly predicted students' intentions to study abroad in both short-term and long-term programs with one exception; perceived behavioral control did not significantly predict intentions to participate in short-term programs. These findings can be used to improve marketing of short-term and long-term programs by addressing student concerns specific to each type of program, potentially increasing the number of students choosing to study abroad. |
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Keywords: | Study abroad Theory of planned behavior Exchange Short-term Long-term |
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