Travel behavior researchers have long been interested in various factors influencing howindividuals make transportation decisions. Research has shown that foreign born residents andrecent immigrants to the U.S. exhibit significantly different travel behavior than native bornpopulations in the same regions. This paper expands on that existing research by examining thetravel behavior data of 662 students from Brigham Young University (52.1% of whom havelived outside the United States for more than 60 consecutive days). First the paper identifies ifan individual’s experience living abroad results in a change in travel behavior upon their returnto the United States; second, if the foreign location where the experience was gained influencesany behavioral change, and if so which regions of the world produce the greatest influence?; andthird, if the duration of an individual’s residence abroad impacts their travel behavior andtransportation perceptions upon returning to the United States. The analysis revealed thatindividuals who have lived abroad do exhibit a significant change in travel behavior uponreturning to the United States, and the continent where the individual lived does significantlyimpact their change in travel behavior. However it appears that this change in behavior upontheir return to the United States may be a regression to the mean, manifested by individualsadopting travel behavior similar to the transportation culture of their domestic environment. Thelocation and duration of foreign experience does not have a significant impact on the currenttravel behavior of the individuals represented in this sample.
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