Relative impact of course components at Outward Bound Singapore: a retrospective study of long-term outcomes

This study examined the long-term impact of specific course components on participants who attended a 21-day Outward Bound Singapore course between 1997 and 2005. In total, 1029 questionnaires were sent out by mail. Participants were given a choice to complete the questionnaire on paper or online. A total of 318 questionnaires were successfully completed (209 by mail and 109 by the Internet) which resulted in an overall response rate of 34.29%. A series of hierarchical regressions was utilized to explore how course components contributed to participant perceptions of course long-term impact. The results assert there is long-term impact on past participants' lives, even if they participated in the course as far back as 1997. Specific course components that contributed to long-term impact were personal reflection time, group debriefing time, and outdoor activities. The course instructor was not a significant contributor to long-term impact.