Which of the following is one of the determining factors of intention, according to the Theory of Reasoned Action?
a. attitudes b. perceived control c. rituals d. all of above
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a. attitudes.
The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) was developed by Martin Fishbein and Icek Ajzen in the 1970s and is used to predict an individual’s intention to engage in a behavior. The central premise of this theory is that behavior is primarily determined by the individual’s intention to perform the behavior, which is influenced by two factors: attitudes and subjective norms.
- Attitudes: This refers to a person’s overall evaluation of the behavior. If a person believes that performing a certain behavior will lead to positive outcomes (like health benefits, social approval, etc.), they are more likely to intend to engage in that behavior. For example, if someone believes exercising will improve their health and make them feel better, they are more likely to intend to exercise regularly.
- Subjective Norms: This factor involves the perceived social pressure to perform or not perform a behavior. If an individual perceives that important others (family, friends, peers) think they should engage in a behavior, this belief will influence their intention to perform the behavior. For instance, if someone feels their friends encourage them to adopt a healthy diet, they might be more likely to do so.
The Theory of Reasoned Action does not consider perceived control as one of the factors for determining intention. This concept is part of a later extension of the theory, known as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which adds perceived control as a key factor. Rituals are not a part of this framework either.
Overall, the TRA focuses on attitudes and subjective norms as the primary determinants of intention, with the belief that attitudes reflect personal evaluations and subjective norms represent external social influences.