Internships: Their effect on retailer attitudes and perceptions and the relation to employee retention and position promotion

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of internships on the perceptions and attitudes of department chain store retailers and the relation to employee retention and position promotion. Using a self-administered questionnaire developed by the researcher, demographic data and an assessment of the attitudes and perceptions of those retailers with structured internship programs was obtained. It was found that, although internships and interns alike were viewed positively by those firms incorporating a structured internship program, a larger percentage of small department chain store retailers with no exposure to experiential learning through internships exists. It was concluded that for respondents not utilizing a structured internship program, there was equal interest in employing interns and establishing a structured internship program within the firm.