PREDICTION OF PARTICIPATION IN CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL-EDUCATION - TEST OF 2 BEHAVIORAL INTENTION MODELS

Data from a survey of veterinarians was used to test the applicability of two competing models of behavioral intention to participate in a c ontinuing professional education (CPE) program. The Triandis model acc ounted for nearly 50% of the variance in intention to participate and proved to have greater predictive utility than the Fishbein and Ajzen model. Discriminant analysis is revealed that 85% of the respondents w ere classified appropriately as participants and non-participants by t he variables in the behavioral intention model. The results strongly s upport the hypothesis that variables external to the behavioral intent ion model indirectly influence behavioral intention and participation behavior. The study extends existing research by identifying essential social psychological variables for inclusion in the development of a future theoretical model of CPE participation. Implications for future research are proposed.