Motivations and the Intent to Study Abroad Among U.S., French, and Chinese Students

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between students' motivations and their intention to participate in study abroad programs using a model based on expectancy theory.We surveyed U.S., Chinese and French business students who studied in their home countries. Results suggest that certain motivations are common among students from the three countries. We found that the direction of the relationship between motivations and the intent to study abroad varied among the three countries, that nationality moderates all of the relationships, and that different levels of the barriers moderate the relationship between motivations and the intention to study abroad.

Key Words:

• Cross-cultural studies
• expectancy theory
• expectancy theory
• study abroad