Rationality, Information Search and Choice in Higher Education: Evidence from Greece |
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Authors: | Maria Eliophotou Menon Anna Saiti and Michalis Socratous |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Education, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus;(2) Department of Home Economics & Ecology, Harokopio University, 70 Ee.Venizelou Str, Athens, 17671, Greece |
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Abstract: | The paper presents the findings of a study of the decision-making process which precedes the choice of a university in Greece.
Specifically, the degree of rationality exhibited by prospective students is assessed in an attempt to provide a test for
the economic approach to the explanation of human behaviour. Information search is used as an indication of rationality and
measured through a survey conducted among 220 university students in the academic year 2003/2004. The findings provide weak
support for the rationality postulate in that they indicate that more than 40% of respondents could not be classified as information
seekers. Logistic regression analysis was used in order to identify characteristics associated with the propensity to engage
in information search: high socioeconomic status students, students who perceived the decision as important, and students
who had acquired information prior to the choice of a university were found to be more likely to engage in information search.
The paper draws attention to the limitations of the economic rational man model of human behaviour and discusses the implications
of the findings for the promotional strategy of universities. |
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Keywords: | Decision making Economics Information search Rationality University choice University promotion |
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