Three Manuscripts on Study Abroad
Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The three studies in this dissertation contribute to our knowledge about study abroad program impact, particularly as it relates to understanding the interplay of factors that influence students’ decision to study abroad, to employing a more robust methodology to examine the effect of study abroad participation, and to developing and refining measures of instructional practice that can be used to identify effective features of study abroad programs. I begin with the first study asking the question, who studies abroad? Utilizing logistic regression, I identify individual characteristics, experiences prior to college entry, and first year college experiences that predict study abroad intent and participation. In particular, I examine if factors that predict intentions at the time of entrance predict actual participation during students’ second or third years in college. Based on findings, I provide implications for studies that use intentions as a proxy for participation. The purpose of the second study is to estimate the effect of study abroad participation on academic performance and interest in international specializations. To address the methodological limitations of prior research, this study utilizes propensity score matching to create a sample of study abroad participants and non-participants that are similar in terms of characteristics that predict involvement. The effects of study abroad on students’ academic performance (time to degree, 4-year degree completion, total credits earned) and academic interests (completed an International Studies major, completed a major with international/global/language theme) are assessed. The third study is an exploratory attempt to demonstrate how qualitative data from multiple short-term faculty led study abroad programs might be used to improve surveys designed to gather data in large-scale studies of instructional effectiveness. The study examines what measures of instructional activities derived from faculty proposals and student reports of their study abroad engagement predict students’ intercultural competence. Based on findings, implications for developing and refining surveys of practice effectiveness are suggested.
Author: Hee Sun Kim
Language: English
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2772165992