Undergraduate intentions to apply to the Northern Ireland Civil Service: the application of a theory of planned behaviour model

Abstract

The modern literature regarding the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) supports the distinction between self-efficacy (SE) and perceived behavioural control (PBC, Ajzen, 2002). This study compared an extended TPB model (ETPB), incorporating a measure of SE, against the more traditional theory of reasoned action (TRA) and TPB models. In the historically recent context of fair participation and equal opportunity legislation, undergraduate behavioural intentions to apply to the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) for employment were explored in terms of: model superiority; the underlying motivational and belief determinants; religious and gender differences. Using structural equation modelling techniques, the overall ETPB model: provided a better fit than either the TRA or TPB variants; exhibited no religion or gender differences, paralleling current NICS employment profile data (EOU, 2002(EOU, , 2003; and, accounted for 60% of the variance in behavioural intentions. Notwithstanding concerns regarding TPB construct measurement issues, these results provide additional empirical evidence in support of the SE and PBC distinction, and the incorporation of the former within the TPB model. However, descriptive analyses of the underlying motivational and belief determinants of intentions indicated that the students were unimpressed with several perceived NICS employment outcomes and indifferent in their intentions to apply. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.The theory of planned behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1985) is one of the most influential models for exploring the attitude-behaviour relationship. The historical antecedents of the TPB lie in the theory of reasoned action (TRA; Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980). According to the TRA, intention (i.e. the motivation required to engage in a behaviour) is the proximal determinant of behaviour. Behavioural intentions are, in turn, influenced by attitude and subjective norm. Briefly, attitude is defined as an individual's favourable or unfavourable evaluation of a particular behaviour, and subjective norm reflects the perceived social pressure to perform or not perform the behaviour. This model, however, only accounts for behaviour under volitional control. In order to accommodate situations where behaviour is not entirely under personal control, Ajzen (1985) reformulated the model into the TPB to include perceived behavioural control (PBC) as a third determinant of intention.PBC reflects the perceived ease or difficulty of performing the particular behaviour. As a general rule, the more favourable the attitude and subjective norm, and the greater the PBC, the stronger the individual's intentions should be to perform the given behaviour (Ajzen, 2001). The formulation of the TPB model implies that these three predictors influence behaviour indirectly through behavioural intentions, and that PBC influences behaviour directly, in so far as it serves as a proxy for actual control.

Predicting Nurses’ Acceptance of Radiofrequency Identification Technology

“…27(p401) Subjective norms refer to an individual's perceptions of others' desires that he/she perform a particular behavior, whereas perceived behavioral control focuses on an individual's perception of the ease or difficulty of performing a given behavior. 27 Ajzen 29 in 2002 proposed that the TPB introduced by Ajzen 24 in 1991 be modified by separating the construct of perceived behavioral control into two separate constructs: self-efficacy and controllability. Cammock et al 27 called this new model the ETPB and concluded that the ETPB proved a superior model over the TRA and conventional TPB in that it ''accounted for 60% of the variance in behavioral intentions.''…”

“…28 Whereas TRA considers behavior only as influenced by attitude and subjective norms, TPB adds perceived behavioral control as a third construct affecting behavior. 27 According to Cammock et al, 27 attitude reflects ''an individual's favorable or unfavorable evaluation of a particular behavior.'' 27(p401) Subjective norms refer to an individual's perceptions of others' desires that he/she perform a particular behavior, whereas perceived behavioral control focuses on an individual's perception of the ease or difficulty of performing a given behavior.…”

“…26 The TRA posits that an individual's intent to engage in a behavior is the major determinant of whether the individual engages in that behavior. 27 Behavior is influenced by attitude and by subjective norms. 27 The TPB focuses on how individuals' external environments influence their intentions, whereas TAM focuses on how individuals' perceptions influence their intentions.…”

“…27 Behavior is influenced by attitude and by subjective norms. 27 The TPB focuses on how individuals' external environments influence their intentions, whereas TAM focuses on how individuals' perceptions influence their intentions. 28 Whereas TRA considers behavior only as influenced by attitude and subjective norms, TPB adds perceived behavioral control as a third construct affecting behavior.…”

“…21,22,27,30 This theoretical framework assessed nurses' intention to use RFID technology, including privacy concerns, attitudes toward RFID technology (attitudes), social pressure (subjective norms), perception of control over their RFID technology usage (controllability), and belief in their ability to use RFID technology (self-efficacy). 21,22,27,30 In a qualitative study using interviews and participant observation, Fisher and Monahan 16 studied privacy concerns of hospital staff members, particularly nurses, in regard to their being tracked by their employers through the use of RFID technologies. The results indicated that nurses expressed concern about being overly scrutinized and felt that they were being watched.…”