Understanding the Role of Openness to Experience in Study Abroad Students

In this article, the authors report on a study of 59 undergraduate students who completed a survey assessing aspects of openness to experience, race and cultural understanding, and critical thinking before and after they studied abroad for 3 months. Results showed an increase in students’ knowledge of and ability to comprehend new cultures, particularly among those who initially indicated a low openness to experience. However, there was a decrease in critical thinking skills in students who reported high levels of openness, a finding that was contrary to our prediction and recent research. Possible explanations are discussed regarding the seeming lack of study abroad benefits among students who reported high levels of openness to experience.