A Mixed-Methods Investigation Into the Effects of Short-Term Study Abroad Program on Intercultural Competence

• In Event: 35.078 - MTCC Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: 35.078-12 - Research on Study Abroad Programs

Abstract

Study abroad initiatives are more and more popular in the United States. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the current study aims to evaluate the impact of short-term study abroad programs on college students’ growth of intercultural competence. Both quantitative and qualitative findings provide consistent evidence that short-term study abroad programs can have positive impacts on college students’ intercultural competence regarding cultural engagement, ambiguity tolerance, and knowledge of host site. The qualitative findings revealed that interactions with local people and diversity of cultural excursions during short-term study abroad are beneficial to develop college students’ intercultural competence. By comparing results from quantitative and qualitative data, self-efficacy was another critical construct in addition to the five sub-scales of the quantitative measure.

Authors

• Meng Fan, Human Resources Research Organization

• Ruixue Liu, University of Kentucky