Entrepreneurial motivation and intention of undergraduates: investigating the moderating role of entrepreneurship course
The purpose of the present study is to examine how basic psychological needs, as conceptualized in Self-Determination Theory, are related to attitudes, control beliefs and entrepreneurial intention of Theory of Planned Behaviour. Specifically, it aims at understanding the relationship between autono...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
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Inderscience
2015
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/45840/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/45840/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/45840/1/Intl_J_of_Entrepreneuship_and_Small_Business.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/45840/2/IJESB_Paper_Acceptance_Letter.pdf |
| Summary: | The purpose of the present study is to examine how basic psychological needs, as conceptualized in Self-Determination Theory, are related to attitudes, control beliefs and entrepreneurial intention of Theory of Planned Behaviour. Specifically, it aims at understanding the relationship between autonomy and competence and students’ intention to start their own businesses. It further aims at testing the direct and indirect effects on entrepreneurial intention. In addition, entrepreneurship education and training could be one of the factors that help in fostering positive attitudes about entrepreneurship and in unleashing entrepreneurial skills and developing the required competencies. Thus, the present study also aims at examining the moderation role entrepreneurship course on students’ inclination to be entrepreneurs.
Methods - Data were obtained from 622 final year undergraduate university students, enrolled in various disciplines, from two largest public and private universities in Yemen. Using standardized instruments, structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model and structural relationships.
Findings – The findings reveals that autonomy and competence have significant effect on student attitude and perceived behavioural control, and in turn, they have significant effects on entrepreneurial intention. In addition, attitude and perceived behavioural control play a full mediation role in the relationship between autonomy and competence and entrepreneurial intention. Further, contrary to our expectations, the multi-group analysis indicates that entrepreneurship course does not moderate any relationship.
Research limitations - The generalizability of the findings is limited to the university students, not the entire youth population in Yemen. Further, a longitudinal design is recommended to examine the effect of entrepreneurship course.
Implications – Entrepreneurship is critical for the development of individuals and nations as well. Fostering it among people is critical so that they may be inclined towards starting their new businesses.
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