Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China
IntroductionIn recent years, the pursuit of a master’s degree has become a social phenomenon of wide concern. It is essential to understand why large number of students choose to pursue master’s degree. This study aims to empirically analyze the factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s...
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1284277/full |
| _version_ | 1797356964071604224 |
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| author | Yuhong Zhou Yi Liu Wenhao Xue Xinyao Li Xinyao Li Zhe Yang Zhihua Xu |
| author_facet | Yuhong Zhou Yi Liu Wenhao Xue Xinyao Li Xinyao Li Zhe Yang Zhihua Xu |
| author_sort | Yuhong Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionIn recent years, the pursuit of a master’s degree has become a social phenomenon of wide concern. It is essential to understand why large number of students choose to pursue master’s degree. This study aims to empirically analyze the factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree.MethodBased on the extended theory of planned behavior, this study conducts a questionnaire survey of university students in Shandong Province, which has had the highest number of people taking the postgraduate entrance examination in China for several years. A total of 440 questionnaires were finally collected, including 417 valid questionnaires. And then ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to analyze the factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree.ResultsIn general, the intent to pursue a master’s degree is positively influenced by attitude (β = 0.161, p < 0.01) and subjective norms (β = 0.208, p < 0.01), and negatively influenced by risk perception (β = −0.084, p < 0.05). Compared with male students, female students’ intent is more likely to be influenced by risk perception (β = −0.144, p < 0.05) and social factors (β = 0.140, p < 0.05). The intent of upperclass students tends to be positively influenced by perceived behavioral control (β = 0.125, p < 0.05), whereas the negative impact of risk perception (β = −0.219, p < 0.05) on the intent is significant for underclass students. The intent of students in rural areas are more sensitive to risk perception (β = −0.194, p < 0.01) than those of students in cities. In private universities, social factors (β = 0.445, p < 0.05) significantly affect the intent to pursue a master’s degree. In ordinary public universities, the intent of students is more likely to be influenced by risk perception (β = −0.082, p < 0.05).ConclusionThe study is helpful to strengthen the understanding of the influencing factors of the intent to pursue a master’s degree. In general, the intent to pursue a master’s degree is mainly influenced by attitude, subjective norms and risk perception. Moreover, the influencing factors vary among different groups (e.g., female vs. male, rural areas vs. cities). Furthermore, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, risk perception, and social factors have greater impacts on the intent of students from low-income households than those from high-income households. This study can provide policy implications for universities to take targeted educational measures to encourage students to make a choice that suits their own development after graduation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:36:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ac03332f41d4002956047f9c8785b18 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:36:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ac03332f41d4002956047f9c8785b182024-01-12T04:37:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-01-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.12842771284277Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, ChinaYuhong Zhou0Yi Liu1Wenhao Xue2Xinyao Li3Xinyao Li4Zhe Yang5Zhihua Xu6School of Tourism and Geography Science, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Economics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, ChinaInstitute of Marine Development, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Economics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, ChinaIntroductionIn recent years, the pursuit of a master’s degree has become a social phenomenon of wide concern. It is essential to understand why large number of students choose to pursue master’s degree. This study aims to empirically analyze the factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree.MethodBased on the extended theory of planned behavior, this study conducts a questionnaire survey of university students in Shandong Province, which has had the highest number of people taking the postgraduate entrance examination in China for several years. A total of 440 questionnaires were finally collected, including 417 valid questionnaires. And then ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to analyze the factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree.ResultsIn general, the intent to pursue a master’s degree is positively influenced by attitude (β = 0.161, p < 0.01) and subjective norms (β = 0.208, p < 0.01), and negatively influenced by risk perception (β = −0.084, p < 0.05). Compared with male students, female students’ intent is more likely to be influenced by risk perception (β = −0.144, p < 0.05) and social factors (β = 0.140, p < 0.05). The intent of upperclass students tends to be positively influenced by perceived behavioral control (β = 0.125, p < 0.05), whereas the negative impact of risk perception (β = −0.219, p < 0.05) on the intent is significant for underclass students. The intent of students in rural areas are more sensitive to risk perception (β = −0.194, p < 0.01) than those of students in cities. In private universities, social factors (β = 0.445, p < 0.05) significantly affect the intent to pursue a master’s degree. In ordinary public universities, the intent of students is more likely to be influenced by risk perception (β = −0.082, p < 0.05).ConclusionThe study is helpful to strengthen the understanding of the influencing factors of the intent to pursue a master’s degree. In general, the intent to pursue a master’s degree is mainly influenced by attitude, subjective norms and risk perception. Moreover, the influencing factors vary among different groups (e.g., female vs. male, rural areas vs. cities). Furthermore, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, risk perception, and social factors have greater impacts on the intent of students from low-income households than those from high-income households. This study can provide policy implications for universities to take targeted educational measures to encourage students to make a choice that suits their own development after graduation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1284277/fullintent to pursue a master’s degreeattitudesubjective normsperceived behavioral controlrisk perceptionsocial factors |
| spellingShingle | Yuhong Zhou Yi Liu Wenhao Xue Xinyao Li Xinyao Li Zhe Yang Zhihua Xu Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China Frontiers in Psychology intent to pursue a master’s degree attitude subjective norms perceived behavioral control risk perception social factors |
| title | Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China |
| title_full | Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China |
| title_fullStr | Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China |
| title_short | Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China |
| title_sort | factors that influence the intent to pursue a master s degree evidence from shandong province china |
| topic | intent to pursue a master’s degree attitude subjective norms perceived behavioral control risk perception social factors |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1284277/full |
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