The theory of planned behavior: a conceptual approach to assessing emergencies among selected Ghanaian public Universities.
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Date
2016-08
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KNUST
Abstract
Why do people behave the way they do in emergency situations that require some
urgency? Drawing on the planned behavioral theory, it is understood that, individuals
engage in behaviors that are formed out of their beliefs. These beliefs are hinged on
three pre-conditions; the actor‟s belief in his ability to intervene (attitude), his
perception of what significant others may think about his conduct (subjective norms)
and his assessment of the presence of factors that may facilitate or inhibit his conduct
(perceived behavioral control). This study set out to assess the theory of planned
behavior in emergencies among students, staff and management members of selected
Ghanaian public universities. The research had as its objectives, the following intents;
to examine the levels of awareness of emergency preparedness on public university
campuses, to assess the mediating effect of behavioral intentions in the relationship
between attitude and commitment to emergency preparedness, to assess the mediating
effect of behavioral intentions in the relationship between subjective norms and
commitment to emergency preparedness and to assess the mediating effect of
behavioral intentions in the relationship between perceived behavioral control and
commitment to emergency preparedness. The study involved a total of 379
respondents with a breakdown of 270 students, 77 staff and 32 management members
across the three selected university campuses sampled by a combination of quota,
purposive and convenience sampling methods. The analysis of data was conducted in
basic descriptive statistics, paired sample T test analyses and linear regression models.
The study‟s findings reveal that, the levels of emergency awareness on these
campuses did not differ between students, staff and management. Further
demonstrating that, behavioral intention positively influence the relationships between
attitude with commitment, subjective norms with commitment and perceived
behavioral control on commitment. Consequently, behavioral intention was found to
be the most influential factor that affects behavioral commitment
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Human Resource and Organizational Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Master of Business Administration (Management and Organizational Development Option)