Conversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

dc.contributor.advisorBagraim, Jeffrey
dc.contributor.authorArchary, Kendra
dc.date.accessioned2022-02-01T10:42:12Z
dc.date.available2022-02-01T10:42:12Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.date.updated2022-01-31T11:03:52Z
dc.description.abstractInternships provide students with the unique opportunity to experience what working for a particular organisation will entail, while simultaneously giving the organisation a chance to evaluate the students' work capabilities and cultural fit before offering them a full-time employment contract. As a result, internships have necessitated deeper understanding, from researchers and employers alike, of what impacts intern conversion rates within host organisations. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) this study explored the intention toward conversion into full-time employment within host organisations of the South African intern. The study employed a quantitative design to test the hypotheses that behavioural beliefs (attitudinal beliefs, subjective normative beliefs, and perceived behavioural control beliefs) would influence the intention to convert. A total of 210 respondents completed an online survey. The sample consisted of interns from three South African organisations. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of the measurement and structural models found that the hypothesised models fit the data moderately well. Results of the regression analysis showed that both attitudes and subjective norms were significant in determining intention towards converting into full-time employment, however, perceived behavioural control and perceptions of COVID-19 were not significant determinants of conversion behaviour. The study makes three contributions to the literature. First, TPB can be a useful framework to explain interns' intention to convert. Second, the utility of the TPB framework for conversion intentions was established. Third, this study contributes to limited research on the topic and the findings call for longer-term research on intern conversion in the South African context with larger sample groups.
dc.identifier.apacitationArchary, K. (2021). <i>Conversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior</i>. (). ,Faculty of Commerce ,Organisational Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35630en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationArchary, Kendra. <i>"Conversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior."</i> ., ,Faculty of Commerce ,Organisational Psychology, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35630en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationArchary, K. 2021. Conversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior. . ,Faculty of Commerce ,Organisational Psychology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35630en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Master Thesis AU - Archary, Kendra AB - Internships provide students with the unique opportunity to experience what working for a particular organisation will entail, while simultaneously giving the organisation a chance to evaluate the students' work capabilities and cultural fit before offering them a full-time employment contract. As a result, internships have necessitated deeper understanding, from researchers and employers alike, of what impacts intern conversion rates within host organisations. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) this study explored the intention toward conversion into full-time employment within host organisations of the South African intern. The study employed a quantitative design to test the hypotheses that behavioural beliefs (attitudinal beliefs, subjective normative beliefs, and perceived behavioural control beliefs) would influence the intention to convert. A total of 210 respondents completed an online survey. The sample consisted of interns from three South African organisations. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of the measurement and structural models found that the hypothesised models fit the data moderately well. Results of the regression analysis showed that both attitudes and subjective norms were significant in determining intention towards converting into full-time employment, however, perceived behavioural control and perceptions of COVID-19 were not significant determinants of conversion behaviour. The study makes three contributions to the literature. First, TPB can be a useful framework to explain interns' intention to convert. Second, the utility of the TPB framework for conversion intentions was established. Third, this study contributes to limited research on the topic and the findings call for longer-term research on intern conversion in the South African context with larger sample groups. DA - 2021_ DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Conversion intention KW - the theory of planned behaviour KW - attitudes KW - subjective norms KW - perceived behavioural control KW - perceptions of COVID-19 LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2021 T1 - Conversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior TI - Conversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35630 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/35630
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationArchary K. Conversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior. []. ,Faculty of Commerce ,Organisational Psychology, 2021 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35630en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentOrganisational Psychology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerce
dc.subjectConversion intention
dc.subjectthe theory of planned behaviour
dc.subjectattitudes
dc.subjectsubjective norms
dc.subjectperceived behavioural control
dc.subjectperceptions of COVID-19
dc.titleConversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
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