Abstract
The second chapter analyses the personal influences on higher education consumer choice, by covering demographics — gender and age, family, income, educational background and lifestyle. The first section covers influences on consumer behaviour based on theoretical models and the meaning of segmentation (the ways a potential market is divided into distinctive groups of consumers with common characteristics and needs). Next, research on the major personal factors affecting consumer behaviour in HE are analysed in detail, with references to empirical findings on each topic. A critical discussion raises ethical issues and the need for further research.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baker, J. (2014). No Ivies, Oxbridge, or grandes Écoles: constructing distinctions in university choice. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 35,(6): 914–932.
Ball, J. A. (2012). The gender gap in undergraduate business programs in the United States. Journal of Education for Business, 87,(5): 260–265.
Ball, S. J., Davies, J., David, M., & Reay, D. (2002). “Classification” and “Judgement”: social class and the “cognitive structures” of choice in Higher Education. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 32,(1): 51–72.
Bonnema, J. & van der Weldt, D. L. R. (2008). Information and source preferences of a student market in higher education. International Journal of Educational Management, 22,(4): 314–327.
Boudarbat, B. & Montmarquette, C. (2009). Choice of fields of study of university Canadian graduates: the role of gender and their parents’ education. Education Economics, 17,(2): 185–213.
Briggs, S. & Wilson, A. (2007). Which university? A study of the influence of cost and information factors on Scottish undergraduate choice. Journal of Higher Education Policy amp; Management, 29,(1): 57–72.
Buser, T., Niederle, M., & Oosterbeek, H. (2014). Gender, competitiveness, and career choices. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 129,(3): 1409–1447.
Callender, C. & Jackson, J. (2008). Does the fear of debt constrain choice of university and subject of study? Studies in Higher Education, 33,(4): 405–429.
Cho, S., Hudley, C., Lee, S., Barry, L., & Kelly, M. (2008). Roles of gender, race, and SES in the college choice process among first-generation and non-first-generation students. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 1,(2): 95–107.
Connor, H. & Dewson, S. (2001). Social Class and Higher Education: Issues affecting decisions on participation by lower social class groups (Research Report 267). London: Department for Education and Employment, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office.
Davies, S. & Guppy, N. (1997). Fields of study, college selectivity, and student inequalities in higher education. Social Forces, 75,(4): 1417–1438.
Drewes, T. & Michael, C. (2006). How do students choose a university?: an analysis of applications to universities in Ontario, Canada. Research in Higher Education, 47,(7): 781–800.
Frazier, B., Young, C., & Fuller, E. (2012). Non-traditional adult masters degree students and their choice of programme of study. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 16,(3): 79–98.
Gemici, A. H. U. & Wiswall, M. A. T. T. (2014). Evolution of gender differences in post-secondary human capital investments: college majors. International Economic Review, 55,(1): 23–56.
Harker, D., Slade, P., & Harker, M. (2001). Exploring the decision process of school leavers’ and “mature students” in university choice. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 11,(2): 1–20.
Hemsley-Brown, J. (2015). Getting into a Russell Group university: high scores and private schooling. British Educational Research Journal, 41,(3): 398–422.
Hemsley-Brown, J. & Oplatka, I. (2015). University choice: what do we know, what don’t we know and what do we still need to find out? International Journal of Educational Management, 29,(3): 254–274.
Holdsworth, D. K. & Nind, D. (2005). Choice modeling New Zealand high school seniors’ preferences for university education. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 15,(2): 81–104.
Kinsler, J. & Pavan, R. (2011). Family income and higher education choices: the importance of accounting for college quality. Journal of Human Capital, 5,(4): 453–477.
Kotler, P. & Armstrong, G. (2003). Principles of Marketing. New York: Prentice Hall.
Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., Harris, L. C., & Piercy, N. (2014). Principles of Marketing 6th European Edition. Harlow: Pearson Education.
Kotler, P. & Armstrong, G. (2013). Principles of Marketing (Global Edition). (15th ed.) Harlow: Pearson Education.
Leslie, D. (2003). Using success to measure quality in British higher education: which subjects attract the best-qualified students? Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A (Statistics in Society), 166,(3): 329–347.
Marandet, E. & Wainwright, E. (2010). Invisible experiences: understanding the choices and needs of university students with dependent children. British Educational Research Journal, 36,(5): 787–805.
Mastekaasa, A. & Smeby, J. C. (2008). Educational choice and persistence in male- and female-dominated fields. Higher Education, 55,(2): 189–202.
Moakler, M. W. & Kim, M. M. (2014). College major choice in stem: revisiting confidence and demographic factors. Career Development Quarterly, 62,(2): 128–142.
Oplatka, I. & Tevel, T. (2006). Liberation and revitalization: the choice and meaning of higher education among Israeli female students in midlife. Adult Education Quarterly, 57,(1): 62–84.
Osborne, M. J., Marks, A., & Turner, E. (2004). Becoming a mature student: how adult applicants weigh the advantages and disadvantages of higher education. Higher Education, 48,(3): 291–315.
Pasternak, R. (2005). Choice of institutions of higher education and academic expectations: the impact of cost-benefit factors. Teaching in Higher Education, 10,(2): 189–201.
Porter, S. & Umbach, P. (2006). College major choice: an analysis of personal environment fit. Research in Higher Education, 47,(4): 429–449.
Reay, D., Ball., S. J., & David, M. (2002). “It’s taking me a long time but I’ll get there in the end”: mature students on access courses and higher education choice. British Educational Research Journal, 28,(1): 5–19.
Reay, D., Davies, J., David, M., & Ball, S. J. (2001). Choices of degree or degrees of choice? Class, “race” and the higher education choice process. Sociology, 35,(4): 855–874.
Schiffman, L., Kanuk, L. L., & Hansen, H. (2008). Consumer Behaviour: A European Outlook. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Siegfried, J. & Getz, M. (2006). Where do the children of professors attend college? Economics of Education Review, 25,(2): 201–210.
Wilks, J. & Wilson, K. (2012). Going on to uni? Access and participation in university for students from backgrounds of disadvantage. Journal of Higher Education Policy amp; Management, 34,(1): 79–90.
Yingui, M. A. (2009). Family socioeconomic status, parental involvement, and college major choices–gender, race/ethnic, and nativity patterns. Sociological Perspectives, 52,(2): 211–234.
Zafar, B. (2013). College major choice and the gender gap. Journal of Human Resources, 48,(3): 545–595.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2016 Jane Hemsley-Brown and Izhar Oplatka
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hemsley-Brown, J., Oplatka, I. (2016). Personal Influences on Consumer Behaviour. In: Higher Education Consumer Choice. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-49720-8_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-49720-8_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-69795-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-49720-8
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)