The Power of Listening: Host Community Members' Perspectives of a Field Research Education Abroad Program in Costa Rica

Despite the growing body of literature investigating education abroad programs, there remains very limited empirical research examining the perspectives of local community members who interact with visiting students. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore the varying perspectives of residents within a community in Costa Rica that interact with undergraduate students from a US-based field research program. Utilizing a theoretical framework of critical theory, researchers examined the perspectives of community members with varying degrees of power. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 32 local community members, direct observations, and document analysis. Findings from this study include community members' perceptions of opportunities and challenges of interactions with visiting students, community members' valuing interactions and relationships with students, and the challenge of the locus of control related to community interactions being held by a study abroad organization. This research illuminates ways to incorporate community perspectives into the design, implementation, and evaluation of education abroad programs.