The effect of proximal personality traits on entrepreneurial intention among higher education students
International Journal of Innovation Science
ISSN: 1757-2223
Article publication date: 19 May 2023
Issue publication date: 15 January 2024
Abstract
Purpose
According to the literature, general personality traits are less strongly related to the creation of new ventures than specific/proximal personality traits. Therefore, this study aims to understand the different proximal personalities that influence the entrepreneurial intention to start a new venture and the relationship between them.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire filled in by students of entrepreneurship or related courses at the end of the second semester (2019/2020 academic year), and the research option is based on covariance-based structural equation modelling.
Findings
The results of this study show that entrepreneurial intentions can be predicted by specific individual traits, namely, risk-taking, entrepreneurial alertness, creativity, proactivity and self-efficacy. Moreover, it was found that risk-taking mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and proactivity. On the other hand, students’ creativity mediates the relationship between risk-taking and proactivity. Finally, students’ self-efficacy mediates the relationship between proactiveness and entrepreneurial intention.
Practical implications
The results have implications for entrepreneurship education given that a better understanding of the personality traits that influence entrepreneurial intentions can lead to the development of new approaches and pedagogical tools.
Originality/value
This model can be used as a diagnostic tool for designing an effective and efficient entrepreneurship curriculum and pedagogy, acting as an (ongoing) audit of students’ entrepreneurial intentions to get a scientific basis in case of further course/module adjustments.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work is funded by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the Scientific Employment Stimulus – Institutional Call – reference CEECINST/00026/2018.
Citation
Brás, G.R., Daniel, A. and Fernandes, C. (2024), "The effect of proximal personality traits on entrepreneurial intention among higher education students", International Journal of Innovation Science, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 114-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-10-2022-0198
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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