Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of Study Abroad and Their Level of Achievement of Global Learning Outcomes

Authors

Claudia Grigorescu, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Major/Program

Curriculum and Instruction

First Advisor's Name

Hilary Landorf

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Eric Dwyer

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Susan Himburg

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Teresa Lucas

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

study abroad, global learning, global education, global perspective inventory, student perceptions, assessment outcomes, indirect measure, higher education, undegraduate students, Hispanics

Date of Defense

3-18-2015

Abstract

This study expanded on current research on study abroad and global learning, using the Global Perspective Inventory (GPI), and conducted at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL. The GPI assesses the holistic development of a global perspective in higher education within three domains and their respective FIU-determined equivalents: cognitive (global awareness), intrapersonal (global perspective), and interpersonal (global engagement). The main purpose of this study was to assess FIU’s undergraduate students’ perceptions of study abroad on their level of achievement of global awareness, global perspective, and global engagement. The secondary purpose was to determine how the students described their study abroad experience and achievement of global learning.

The research design for this study consisted of parallel mixed methods. The quantitative component was an ex post facto with hypothesis design, using a pretest/posttest nonequivalent group methodology. FIU undergraduates (N=147) who studied abroad for one semester or more completed the GPI pre- and post-tests. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were conducted to compare the means. The interviews included 10 students, and were analyzed through Structural coding, Saldaña’s In Vivo coding, and Value coding.

Quantitative analyses indicated positive changes in the students’ global awareness and global perspective. These analyses also showed that the FIU students achieved higher post-test means on all the domains of the GPI compared to other studies. Qualitative analyses showed that the students’ experiences incorporated all three global learning outcomes, most notably global awareness and perspective.

Identifier

FI15050201

Recommended Citation

Grigorescu, Claudia, "Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of Study Abroad and Their Level of Achievement of Global Learning Outcomes" (2015). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1842.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1842