Glossary

Attitude toward behavior: an individual's positive or negative evaluation of self-performance of the particular behavior. The concept is the degree to which performance of the behavior is positively or negatively valued. It is determined by the total set of accessible behavioral beliefs linking the behavior to various outcomes and other attributes.

Behavior: an individual's observable response in a given situation with respect to a given target. Ajzen said a behavior is a function of compatible intentions and perceptions of behavioral control in that perceived behavioral control is expected to moderate the effect of intention on behavior, such that a favorable intention produces the behavior only when perceived behavioral control is strong.

Behavioral intention: an indication of an individual's readiness to perform a given behavior. It is assumed to be immediate antecedent of behavior (Ajzen, 2002b). It is based on attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, with each predictor weighted for its importance in relation to the behavior and population of interest.

Behavioral belief: an individual's belief about consequences of particular behavior. The concept is based on the subjective probability that the behavior will produce a given outcome.

Control beliefs: an individual's beliefs about the presence of factors that may facilitate or impede performance of the behavior (Ajzen, 2001). The concept of perceived behavioral control is conceptually related to self-efficacy.

Descriptive norm: refers to perceptions about what others in one's social or personal networks are doing. Meant to capture situations where there is strong social identity

Direct measurement: refers to measurement on a major construct (example: attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control). These are usually more strongly associated with outcomes than indirect measures.

Elicitation studies: studies conducted to identify and select the content for the construct measures.

Evaluation of behavioral outcome: positive or negative judgments about the outcomes of a behavior.

Experiential attitude (or affect): is the individual's emotional response to the idea of performing the behavior

Instrumental attitude (or cognitive): is determined by beliefs about outcomes of behavior

Indirect measurement: refers to measurement on the minor constructs that comprise the major construct and then calculating these scores across the outcomes of the behavior.

Injunctive norm (similar to subjective norm): refers to normative beliefs about what others think one should do and motivation to comply

Motivation to comply: motivation to do what salient referents think the individual should do.

Normative belief: an individual's perception about particular behavior, which is influenced by the judgment of significant others (e.g., parents, spouse, friends, teachers).

Perceived behavioral control: an individual's perceived ease or difficulty of performing the particular behavior (Ajzen, 1988). It is assumed that perceived behavioral control is determined by the total set of accessible control beliefs.

Perceived power: beliefs about the power of situational and internal factors to inhibit or facilitate the performing of the behavior.

Personal agency: refers to individual's capability to originate and direct actions for given purposes.

Subjective norm: an individual's perception of social normative pressures, or relevant others' beliefs that he or she should or should not perform such behavior.