Explaining entrepreneurial intentions in the Caribbean

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the need for Caribbean scholarship to advance and test social psychological models that speak to current entrepreneurial realities on the ground which have implications for theory, education, practice and public policy. It tests a revised entrepreneurial intentions‐based model by examining the impact of several socio‐cognitive predictors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a structural equation modelling approach, a revised model of entrepreneurial intentions is tested based on a survey of 376 university students from a Caribbean university.

Findings

The chi square difference results reveal that when compared with the proposed (revised) model, a previous model advanced by Krueger is found to be the most suitable model in explaining entrepreneurial intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The cross‐sectional design of the study does not permit causal statements to be made regarding the variables examined. There is a call for longitudinal research to further examine the causal links between relevant variables in entrepreneurial models.

Practical implications

This paper has strong practical value in that the results can assist students, educators, and present entrepreneurs in understanding the dynamics and processes involved in entrepreneurial decision‐making. This understanding can promote the development and maintenance of further entrepreneurial ventures in the Caribbean.

Originality/value

The paper also has a strong theoretical value as it relies on several socio‐cognitive explanations of human behaviour, and seeks to advance the theoretical field by using more rigorous analyses.

Citation

Devonish, D., Alleyne, P., Charles‐Soverall, W., Young Marshall, A. and Pounder, P. (2010), "Explaining entrepreneurial intentions in the Caribbean", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 149-171. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552551011027020