Does a Student’s Personality Influence Global Attentiveness and Internationalism in an International Business Course?

ABSTRACT

Learning outcomes for international business (IB) courses are designed to do more than simply impart IB knowledge. However, past studies have had mixed results on the impact of learning in IB courses. This study examines whether a student’s personality may affect learning outcomes. The results suggest that after completing an IB course, students become more interested in keeping up with important international issues (i.e., global attentiveness) and also benefit from a stronger global outlook (i.e., internationalism). The Big Five personality trait, openness to experience, partially affected these learning outcomes. Students in our study with a high degree of openness to experience were the most global attentive before and after taking the IB course. However, openness to experience levels did not significantly influence levels of internationalism. Implications of this study and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Personality
• Global attentiveness
• Learning
• International business (IB)

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jiun-Shiu Chen

Jiun-Shiu Chen, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Management at McNeese State University. He received his BS from Soochow University in Taiwan; MBA from the University of Rhode Island, and PhD from the University of Memphis. His research interests include host country’s national commitment, the impact of international conflict on international management, and top management team. He teaches leadership, diversity, global business, and organizational behavior.

Jeffery Stevens

Jeffery Stevens, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Management/Entrepreneurship. He received his BA in History from the University of Texas at San Antonio, MA in Management from Webster University, and PhD in Human Development from Texas A&M University. He joined the University of Florida for Post Doctorate Bridge Program in Entrepreneurship. He teaches and conducts research in management and entrepreneurship. He received the College of Business Pinnacle Excellence Award and Professorship in Calcasieu Parish Economic Development.

Susie S. Cox

Susie S. Cox, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, is a Professor of Management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She received a Masters of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, a Masters of Business Administration, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University. Her research focuses on workplace conflict, workplace engagement, effective communication as well as assessment practices.

Thomas R. Tudor

Thomas R. Tudor, PhD, is a Professor of Management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he teaches human resource management. He received his PhD from Virginia Tech. He brings extensive consulting and work experience to the classroom—including previous positions as a Research Manager with the Virginia Labor Studies Center, a Management Analyst Senior with the Department of Labor & Industry, a Grants Administrator with Virginia Tech, and a Contract Specialist with the Department of the Navy. His current teaching-related research involves exploring student learning outcomes. His current workplace-related research involves sexual harassment perceptions around the world.