Virscend University MBA Student Co-Authors Research Published in the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

We are proud to celebrate an outstanding academic achievement from one of our MBA students, Sinan Baran Bayar, who also serves as the SBIR Coordinator at Virscend University’s Center for Sustainable Business Innovation and Research (SBIR Center). This research was conducted as part of the SBIR Center’s ongoing commitment to advancing knowledge in tourism, behavioral science, and sustainable business practices. Sinan has co-authored a peer-reviewed research article published in the prestigious Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (Elsevier).

The study, titled “Risk, fate, and luck: Understanding adventure intentions under the shadow of death ambiguity,” explores how psychological and behavioral factors shape individuals’ intentions to participate in extreme adventure sports, particularly wingsuit activities. This publication highlights the strong research capabilities of our students and demonstrates how Virscend University prepares them to contribute meaningful insights to global academic conversations.

About the Study

The research team used the Extended Reasoned Action Theory to examine what motivates individuals to engage in high-risk adventure activities. Data was collected from 235 participants and analyzed using SmartPLS to evaluate both the measurement and structural models.

The study revealed several key findings:

• Belief in luck significantly increases risk-taking attitudes.

• Perceived risk and subjective norms positively affect adventurous behavioral intentions.

• Fatalism does not influence risk-taking attitudes, contrary to common assumptions.

• Death ambiguity does not moderate the relationship between belief in luck and risk-taking behavior.

These insights contribute to a growing body of knowledge around adventure tourism, decision-making psychology, and consumer behavior in extreme sports.

Why This Matters

This publication is not only a contribution to tourism and behavioral science literature but also a testament to the dedication and research excellence of our students. At Virscend University, we are committed to fostering academic curiosity, global thinking, and real-world impact. Sinan’s collaboration with an international team of researchers reflects the strength of our academic community and the high quality of work our students are capable of producing.

Congratulations to Our Student

We extend our warmest congratulations to Sinan Baran Bayar for this significant accomplishment. Publishing in an Elsevier journal is a milestone many academics strive for, and we are proud to see our students reaching such levels of achievement while still in their graduate studies.

At Virscend University, we remain dedicated to supporting and empowering students as they pursue research, innovation, and global opportunities.