Fishbein's Value x Expectancy Model

Abstract

This research examines two questions concerning Fishbein's Value x Expectanc.1t model: (I) the actual relationship among the components of the model and (2) the role of alternative choices. One hundred thirty-six women awaiting results of a pregnancy test completed questionnaires assessing intention to have or not to have an abortion, attitude toward abortion, beliefs about the consequences of having an abortion, and beliefs about the consequences of continuing the pregnancy or having a child. Follow-up on actual behavior was obtained for the S9 women with positive tests. Path analysis revealed support for most of the assumptions of the Fishbein model but raised questions about the separate roe of' the normative versus belief components. The usefulness of including alternative choices was also shown.