Do perceived cross cultural differences influences level of conflict and intention to leave? : a cross-sectional study on African students in Malaysia
Date
2014-04-12
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The purpose of this study is identifying the impact of cross cultural differences on student’s satisfaction and intention to leave the institution in future. A conceptual framework comprises of four (4) factors that are originally developed by Hofstede (1986) and further enhanced in 2001 by adding fifth dimension of Confucian dynamism was used to examined the impact of cross-cultural differences on level of conflict experienced by African students and their intention to leave the institution in near future. A multivariate likert-scale questionnaire (scale from 1-5) has been developed. Samples of 250 respondents were used from four private institutions in Malaysia to collect the data using random probability sampling method. Simple linear regression and correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS 22. Regression beta coefficient and correlation coefficients were generated to test the hypotheses and to establish the causal effects of collectivism, power distance, Masculinity and uncertainty avoidance. The research shows no significant influence of cross cultural differences on both student’s perceived level of conflict experienced inside and outside of the academic institution. Also this research found no significant impact of cross-cultural differences on student’s intention to leave, except power distance. This study shows that as student’s perceived differences in power distance increases, the intention to leave also increases. Similarly this research found that perceived level of conflict has a significant and positive impact on student’s intention to leave. Therefore this study concluded that cross-cultural differences do not have any significant impact on perceived level of conflict and student intention to leave except power distance. Power distance has significant and positive impact on student intention to leave. However if students experience more conflict, it may strongly influences students intention to leave. Therefore managers at education sector should take initiatives and pay more attention to reduce level of conflict that may arise between students and management, teaching staff and among students. This might help the institution to retain the students in longrun or until they complete the study. Also it is important that government of Malaysia to take initiatives to aware general public and relevant authorities in dealing with African students to reduce the level of perceived conflict in order to attract more students. Future research should be undertaken on different context or by increasing the sample size by widening the research context to ensure validity and reliability of the results.
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