Browsing by Subject "Theory of Planned Behavior"
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Item A Transcendental Phenomenological Examination on the Impact of Advising on the Decision to Study Abroad(2014-08-06) Henry, Julianne ShaunaAgricultural students are falling behind when it comes to competing in the global marketplace. To help prepare students to compete in the global marketplace, participation in a high-impact experience such as study abroad is recommended. In order to increase high-impact experiences for agricultural students, it is important to understand advisor and peer advisor perspectives. The purpose of this study was to understand departmental advisors? and peer advisors? perceptions related to a student?s intent to study abroad through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. Qualitative research methods were used to complete this study. Azjen?s Theory of Planned Behavior provided the framework to explore advisors? and peer advisors? perceptions related to a student?s intent to study abroad. The first phase of the study was a qualitative phenomenological examination of the shared experiences of High-Impact Practice (HIP) Advisors in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University who hold advising roles and participated in a high-impact experience through the college. This study focused on the advisors? perceptions and experience in study abroad. Data were collected through interviews. Departmental culture, personal connections, mass communication, and generating awareness emerged as themes. The results suggest influences such as departmental culture, personal connections, and mass communication influence whether students participated in study abroad. In addition, it became evident that advisors need to be better informed about available resources. The second phase of the study was a transcendental phenomenological exploration of the shared experiences of peer advisors in the Ambassadors and Mentors Study Abroad Program who have participated in study abroad through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, plus their perceptions related to a student?s intent to study abroad in the college. Data were collected through interviews. Educating peers, personal connections, mass communication, and generating awareness emerged as themes. The results suggest educating peers, personal connections, mass communications, and generating awareness influenced how peer advisors informed students and learned about study abroad in the college.Item Factors comprising adolescents’ readiness for sexual behaviors : a latent profile analysis(2014-12) Orozco-Lapray, Diana Lucellan; Kim, Su YeongThe current study used multi-wave data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine the existence of typologies of readiness for sexual intercourse and contraception among a nationally representative sample of adolescents aged 15-18. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the current study used latent profile analyses to establish five profiles of sexual readiness based on adolescents' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control for sexual intercourse and contraception. Analyses were conducted cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and five classes were confirmed at each of two waves. The current study established and characterized four profiles of readiness for sexual behavior at both waves: “impulsive adolescents,” “precarious adolescents,” “well-controlled adolescents,” and “conservatively-reared adolescents.” Two separate fifth profiles also emerged: “hasty adolescents” at wave 1, and “unrestrained adolescents” at wave 2. Logistic regression of longitudinal data indicated that compared to “impulsive adolescents” at wave 1, “precarious” and “conservatively-reared” adolescents were significantly less likely to engage in sexual intercourse at wave 2, and “well-controlled” adolescents were significantly less likely to engage in casual sex. Wave 1 cross-sectional data indicated that “precarious” adolescents were less likely to have used contraception either at their first time or most recent time of sex, and all other profiles were more likely to have employed contraception than “impulsive” adolescents. Wave 2 cross-sectional analyses indicated that two profiles (“precarious” and “conservatively-reared”) were less likely to engage in sexual intercourse, and two profiles (“well-controlled” and “unrestrained”) were more likely to engage in sexual intercourse than “impulsive” adolescents.Item Interpersonal influence on physical activity : mediation by psychological factors and moderation by personal characteristics(2010-05) Ripperger-Suhler, Kenneth Grant; Chalip, Laurence Hilmond, 1951-; Gottlieb, Nell H.; Bartholomew, John B.; Steinhardt, Mary; Kohl, Harold W.; Mirowsky, JohnThe primary purpose of the study was to identify relationships among sources of interpersonal influence, putative psychological mediators, and physical activity. The moderation of these relationships by age, body composition, and educational attainment was also evaluated. Responses from 1224 employees were collected through an online survey at a major healthcare facility in central Texas. Structural equation modeling was used to construct the Social Context Scale of Interpersonal Influence and to estimate its ability to explain intention to be physically active and predict physical activity behavior. Invariance testing provided estimates of moderation by age, education, and body composition. Home social context was positively associated with self-efficacy and positive anticipated outcomes and negatively associated with negative anticipated outcomes. Friend social context was positively associated with self-efficacy, positive anticipated outcomes, and intention. Teasing was positively associated with negative anticipated outcomes. Self-efficacy and positive anticipated outcomes were positively associated with intention. Negative anticipated outcomes were negatively associated with intention. The relationship between friend social context and both positive anticipated outcomes and intention was stronger for obese than non-obese respondents. Home social context was more strongly associated with self-efficacy for those with four year degrees than for those without. Self-efficacy was more strongly associated with intention for those with four year degrees than for those without. Self-efficacy predicted subsequent total leisure time physical activity and the relationship was stronger for respondents over 45 years of age than for those younger than 45. The association between self-efficacy and subsequent total leisure time physical activity was also stronger for respondents with a four year degree than for those without. Home and friend social contexts provide potential conduits for post intervention influence on physical activity behavior. The discussion of the benefits of physical activity among friends may encourage overweight and obese individuals considering exercise, especially those with limited physical activity experiences of their own.Item The Influence of Hotel Managers? Intentions for Green Marketing Practices: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior in Turkey(2014-08-05) Yilmaz, NeseWhat drives hotel managers to adapt green practices in their hotel especially in developing countries with less policy and control of environmental impacts? In seeking to answer this question, the developing country of Turkey was selected as an ideal context given the lack of sustainable development throughout its hospitality industry. Applying Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the main theoretical framework, this research studied how hotel managers? behavioral intentions are related to determinants within the TPB, and how managerial intentions predict their green marketing behavior. In addition to the existing constructs within the TPB model, environmental attitude (as measured through the NEP Scale) was added as a modification. Ultimately, the framework aimed to assess how marketing intentions translates to actual green marketing behavior among hotel managers throughout Turkey. Based on previous studies, an online survey was designed to measure the above constructs. A census was taken of all one-to five-star hotels and boutique hotels registered to Republic of Turkey Tourism and Culture Ministry. To potentially increase the response rate of participation, the researcher offered hotel managers an incentive of planting a tree for every completed questionnaire through TEMA (The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats). Overall, 160 hotel managers completed questionnaires (i.e., a response rate of 8.3%). The result of the study indicates that environmental attitude, attitude toward green marketing, subjective norms and perceived behavior control each significantly predict managers? intention to practice green marketing. Furthermore, the study found a strong relationship between managers? intention to practice green marketing and green marketing behavior. Finally, theoretical relations and several implications associated with hotel managers and green marketing were presented. Additionally, the limitations of the study followed by suggestions for improvements and possible directions for future research were discussed. This study contributes to the organizational greening and green marketing literature by increasing the understanding of how managers? attitudes and intentions toward green marketing are associated with green marketing practices at hotels in a developing country. Although managers should seriously pay attention to environmental issues and act responsibly, they do not always behave accordingly, because their behavior is directed by some constraints. Thus, financial aid seems to be especially important in developing countries. Governments should support hospitality sector by providing economic incentives for the industry to adopt environmentally sound practices. This may include certain creating environmental requirements in the hotel environmental standardization procedures and monitoring the process throughout time. Collaboration with stakeholders in regards to green marketing will also aid in alleviating problems with the hospitality tourism sector.Item Understanding the factors that influence women's decisions to use hormone replacement therapy during menopause using the Theory of Planned Behavior(2002-08) Adamus, Andrea Taylor; Shepherd, Marvin D.The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence women's decisions to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and constructs of risk perception, this study was able to explore the beliefs and attitudes of women about HRT use during menopause. The study was also able to explore how risk perception of HRT and the conditions that affect women during midlife impact their decision to use HRT during that time. Focus groups were conducted to develop the questionnaire used in the larger study. A community-based sample of women from Houston area churches participated in the study. The major theme that emerged from the focus groups was the weighing of cancer risks and the protection benefits of HRT. The most interesting factor that emerged as a barrier to HRT use was "negative publicity" and myths toward taking HRT. Results from the larger study demonstrated that the construct of attitude was the predominate predictor of intention when direct measures were used in a model to predict intention. Meaning that women's attitudes towards HRT use during menopause (whether they are safe, wise to use, good or bad, beneficial, risky, pleasant, or valuable) played a significant role in their intention. In contrast when the belief-based measures were used in the model, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were significant predictors of intention. Meaning that the intention to use HRT was based more on the influence of their husbands, physicians, and families. This also meant that the dosage form, cost, negative publicity, family history of cancer, personal fear of developing cancer, and education about HRT would affect their intention to use HRT during menopause more than the advantages and disadvantages of using HRT (advantages such as protection from osteoporosis, relief from hot flashes; or, disadvantages such as risk of breast cancer). Finally, women's perception of risk with regards to HRT was highest for breast cancer followed by heart disease, endometrial cancer, and osteoporosis. This study found that there are many factors that may affect the decision to use HRT during menopause and that overall these factors affect women’s attitudes towards HRT and their intention to use it.