The Relationship Between International Study Tour Effects and the Personality Variables of Self-Monitoring and Core Self-Evaluations

Over the past fifteen years, at least a dozen articles have appeared in the management and marketing literature describing and supporting international study tours as valuable educational experiences. These articles, however, have focused primarily on the design and implementation of such tours, with minimal emphasis given to outcome assessments or analysis. This limited attention to empirical support for these programs is surprising given their increasing popularity, especially among business students (“Business Students Flock,” 2002). The purpose of this article is to extend the existing literature by assessing the effects of an international business study tour in terms of participants’ perceived cross-cultural connectivity and professional development, and then examining those results in light of two personality traits among participants — self-monitoring and core self-evaluations. Reaction measures from study tour participants were strong, indicating that the tours were effective in facilitating cultural connectivity and enhancing professional development; however, only self-monitoring proved to have a significant impact on both these measures. Nevertheless, post hoc analysis did reveal that a subfactor of core self-evaluations (labeled core self-determination) had a significant impact on professional development. These findings support the value of study tours as positive and beneficial learning experiences for participants. Furthermore, they suggest that self-monitoring capabilities may inform the selection and/or training of study tour participants.