Can a Study Abroad Experience Increase Business Students' Openness to Diversity and Challenge?
Irvine Clarke III and Theresa B. Clarke
James Madison University, College of Business, United States
Volume 20: 2025, pp. 95-118; ABSTRACT
This study used Pascarella et al.’s (1996) Openness to Diversity and Challenges Scale
(ODC) to measure undergraduate business students both before and after a six-week study abroad
program (SAP) experience. Findings reveal that students who study abroad significantly increased
their overall openness to diversity. Notably, significant increases were achieved in all eight items of
the ODC scale. Students who study abroad indicate that they enjoy opportunities to challenge their
ideas, beliefs, and values and find such experiences to be a valuable component of their college
education. The results of this study show greater gains on openness to diversity and challenge from
a six-week program than prior SAP accounts based on shorter durations. Implications for educators
are provided.
Keywords: academic challenge, diversity, intercultural development, openness to diversity, study
abroad programs, transformative learning.
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