Attachment to Family, National Identity, Adherence to Values, and Inclination towards Migration among National Olympiads Contestants

Human capital is the main determinant of development in different societies and the elite play a fundamental role in this regard. In the last 14 years, 62 percent of high school Olympiad medalists have migrated to countries such as the United States and Canada. The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between attachment to family, national identity, adherence to values, and inclination towards migration among high school students participating in national Olympiads. In this survey, descriptive methods were utilized and historical perspectives were also taken into account. The sample size was determined to be 300 based on Cochran’s formula and the sample was drawn via random cluster sampling method. Data analysis was carried out through descriptive and inferential statistical indexes, tables of frequency and percentages. The reliability of the questionnaires was calculated via test-retest method and Cronbach’s alpha and their validity was also approved. Results of the study showed that when attachment to family, national identity, and adherence to (religious) values are high among students, lower inclination towards migration is observed. Findings of the present study are in line with viewpoints of such scholars as Lee, Picouet, Brown, and Meyer who focus on involuntary migration as well as push and pull factors.