Studying Abroad: Understanding the Relationships Among Beliefs, Perceived Value, and Behavioral Intentions

Abstract

Increased globalization highlights the importance of encouraging university students to participate in an international experience. In this study, the authors investigate how behavioral belief, subjective belief, and control belief influence students’ perceived value and intention to study abroad. The authors further examine the moderation effects of generation on the proposed relationships. The results show that behavioral belief, not subjective belief and control belief, is significantly related to perceived value. Second, the relationship between perceived value and intention to study abroad is stronger for the first-generation sample. Third, the subjective belief measure could be divided into the financial support versus nonfinancial support scales. The article concludes with implications of its findings for educators as well as for academic researchers.

Keywords:

• Study-abroad programs
• Theory of planned behavior
• Perceived value
• Student characteristics
• Study-abroad intent

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Weiling Zhuang

Dr. Weiling Zhuang, is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Eastern Kentucky University. He received his doctoral degree in Marketing from Louisiana Tech University. His work has appeared in various conference presentations and conference proceedings. He received a Best Paper Award from the Academy of Marketing Science in 2008. He has published in Journal of Product and Brand Management, Management Research Review, Managing Service Quality, Journal of Selling, Journal of Internet Commerce, and other journals. His current research interests include customer co-creation, online auction behavior, sales management, and price perception.

Kristen King

Dr. Kristen King, received her doctorate in Computer Information Systems from Louisiana Tech University, and is currently teaching in the Computer Science Department at Eastern Kentucky. She received her MBA from Eastern Kentucky University and also holds a BBA in Management from the University of Kentucky. She has presented research and been included in the refereed proceedings of many professional conferences, including AMCIS, DSI, HICSS, INFORMS, and the IABPAD. In addition, her research has been published in refereed publications, including the Journal of Education for Business, Business Education Forum, Management Research Review, Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, and a special edition on decision support in the Annals of Information Systems. Her research interests include knowledge management, inquiring systems and organizations, information assurance and security, ethical decision-making, and empowerment applications to information systems.

Lana Carnes

Dr. Lana Carnes, Professor of Corporate Communication and Technology and Chair of the Department of Management, Marketing, and International Business at Eastern Kentucky University, earned an EdD in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation with concentrations in Higher Education Administration and Organizational Communication from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Carnes is a well-published researcher with over 30 articles published in leading journals in the fields of business communication, international education, and higher education administration. Along with making numerous presentations throughout the U.S., Dr. Carnes has traveled to 38 countries in 5 continents and has made international presentations in Austria and China.