Toward a theory of backpacker personal development: Cross-cultural validation of the BPD scale

Ganghua Chen and Huang, Songshan (Sam)

Tourism Management, 2017, vol. 59, issue C, 630-639

Abstract: This study aims at building a theory of backpacker personal development (BPD) by cross-culturally validating the scale developed by Chen, Bao, and Huang (2014). While the original scale was developed by studying Chinese backpackers, this study focuses on Western backpackers to further validate the scale and advance the studies of backpacker personal development. The study involves two samples in two stages (Study 1, n = 382; Study 2, n = 120) to verify the psychometric properties of the backpacker personal development scale (BPDS). Results show that the five dimensions of the BPDS (i.e., capability, emotion, skill, worldview, and self-consciousness), also apply to Western backpackers; the BPDS demonstrates cross-cultural validity and reliability in measuring backpacker personal development. The current research suggests that Western backpackers see backpacking as a more ‘individualistic’ way of personal development.

Keywords: Backpacker; Personal development; Scale development; Cross-cultural validation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:touman:v:59:y:2017:i:c:p:630-639

DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2016.09.017

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