Moderating Role of Control in the Theory of Planned Behavior: A Replication and Extension

Research inspired by the theory of planned behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991) has typically treated attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC) as independent predictors of intention. However, theoretically, PBC moderates the effects of attitude and subjective norm on intention (Ajzen, 1985). Recently, La Barbera (2018) has found an unexpected negative effect of PBC on the relation between SN and INT, such that SN influenced intention only when PBC was low. One possible interpretation of these results is that individuals who have a high sense of mastery over a given behavior may be less influenced by social pressure. However, the studies were all conducted with convenience samples in Italy. One major main aim of the current study is to replicate these findings in cross-national samples. An additional aim is to examine the interactions between different dimensions of PBC, namely autonomy and capacity, and the two SN factors (injunctive and descriptive norms) highlighted by previous TPB research. other

现有基于计划行为理论（Theory of Planned Behavior, TPB; Ajzen, 1991）的研究，通常将态度（Attitude, ATT）、主观规范（Subjective Norm, SN）与感知行为控制（Perceived Behavioral Control, PBC）作为意向（Intention, INT）的独立预测变量展开分析。不过从理论逻辑来看，PBC会对态度与主观规范作用于意向的效应产生调节作用（Ajzen, 1985）。近期，La Barbera（2018）却发现了PBC对SN与INT间关系的意外负向调节效应：仅当PBC水平较低时，主观规范才会对意向产生显著影响。针对该结果，一种可行的解释是：对某一行为具备较高掌控感的个体，受社会压力的影响程度相对更低。但前述所有研究均仅采用意大利的便利样本开展。本研究的核心目标之一，是在跨国民样本中复现上述研究发现。本研究的另一项目标，则是探究PBC的两个核心维度——自主维度与能力维度——与既往TPB研究提出的两类主观规范因子（指令性规范与描述性规范）之间的交互效应。