Title: The impact of an international field study on students’ learning and consumer ethnocentrism

Authors: Mary M. Long; Dennis M. Sandler; Pradeep Gopalakrishna

Addresses: Lubin School of Business, Pace University, 1 Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038, USA ' Lubin School of Business, Pace University, 1 Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038, USA ' Lubin School of Business, Pace University, 1 Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038, USA

Abstract: Utilising the consumers’ ethnocentric tendencies scale (Shimp and Sharma, 1987), undergraduate US business students participating in an international field study course were measured on their consumer ethnocentric tendencies before and after travel to Europe. Contrary to past research, this exploratory study suggests that students became slightly more ethnocentric regarding their attitudes towards foreign-made products after the travel experience. However, measures of student attitudes towards study abroad and learning outcomes were quite positive, indicating that a short international field study is a valuable experience for students who might not otherwise have the option to travel abroad.

Keywords: studying abroad; international marketing; educational programmes; college students; higher education; universities; ethnocentricity; field studies; student learning; consumer ethnocentrism; ethnocentric tendencies; Terence Shimp; Subhash Sharma; undergraduate students; USA; United States; business students; field study courses; foreign travel; Europe; student attitudes; foreign products; travel experiences; learning outcomes; positive measures; business innovation; R&D; research and development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2011.043206

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2011 Vol.5 No.6, pp.704 - 713

Published online: 07 Mar 2015 *

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