Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T14:12:44.469Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Screening Enterprising Personality in Youth: An Empirical Model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2014

Javier Suárez-Álvarez ,
Ignacio Pedrosa ,
Eduardo García-Cueto  and
José Muñiz
Javier Suárez-Álvarez*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Oviedo (Spain)
Ignacio Pedrosa
Affiliation:
Universidad de Oviedo (Spain)
Eduardo García-Cueto
Affiliation:
Universidad de Oviedo (Spain)
José Muñiz
Affiliation:
Universidad de Oviedo (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Javier Suárez-Álvarez. Psychology Department. Universidad de Oviedo. Plaza Feijoo, s/n. Office 4. 33003. Oviedo (Spain). E-mail: suarezajavier@uniovi.es
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Entrepreneurial attitudes of individuals are determined by different variables, some of them related to the cognitive and personality characteristics of the person, and others focused on contextual aspects. The aim of this study is to review the essential dimensions of enterprising personality and develop a test that will permit their thorough assessment. Nine dimensions were identified: achievement motivation, risk taking, innovativeness, autonomy, internal locus of control, external locus of control, stress tolerance, self-efficacy and optimism. For the assessment of these dimensions, 161 items were developed which were applied to a sample of 416 students, 54% male and 46% female (M = 17.89 years old, SD = 3.26). After conducting several qualitative and quantitative analyses, the final test was composed of 127 items with acceptable psychometric properties. Alpha coefficients for the subscales ranged from .81 to .98. The validity evidence relative to the content was provided by experts (V = .71, 95% CI = .56 - .85). Construct validity was assessed using different factorial analyses, obtaining a dimensional structure in accordance with the proposed model of nine interdependent dimensions as well as a global factor that groups these nine dimensions (explained variance = 49.07%; χ2/df = 1.78; GFI= .97; SRMR = .07). Nine out of the 127 items showed Differential Item Functioning as a function of gender (p < .01, R2 >.035). The results obtained are discussed and future lines of research analyzed.

Keywords

personalityassessmententerprising spiritentrepreneurbusiness
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 17 , 2014 , E60
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aiken, L. R. (1980). Content validity and reliability of single items or questionnaires. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 40, 955–959. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001316448004000419 Google Scholar
Almeida, P. I. L., Ahmetoglu, G., & Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2014). Who wants to be and entrepreneur? The relationship between vocational interests and individual differences in entrepreneurship. Journal of Career Assessment. 22, 102–112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1069072713492923 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education (1999). Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Baum, J. R., Frese, M., Baron, R. A., & Katz, J. A. (2007). Entrepreneurship as an area of psychology study: An introduction. In Baum, J. R., Frese, M., & Baron, R. J. (Eds.), The psychology of entrepreneurship (pp. 41–65). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Bonnett, C., & Furnham, A. (1991). Who wants to be an entrepreneur? A study of adolescents interested in a young enterprise scheme. Journal of Economic Psychology, 12, 465–478. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0167-4870(91)90027-Q Google Scholar
Brandstätter, H. (2011). Personality aspects of entrepreneurship: A look at five meta-analyses. Personality and Individual Differences, 51, 222–230. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.07.007 Google Scholar
Burges Sbicigo, J., & Dalbosco Dell´Aglio, D. (2013). Contextual variables associated with psychological adjustment of adolescents. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 16, E11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2013.20 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Byrne, B. M. (2001). Structural equation modeling with AMOS. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Carraher, S. M., Buchanan, J. K., & Puia, G. (2010). Entrepreneurial need for achievement in China, Latvia, and the USA. Baltic Journal of Management, 5, 378–396. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17465261011079767 Google Scholar
Chandler, G. N., DeTienne, D. R., McKelvie, A., & Mumford, T. V. (2011). Causation and effectuation processes: A validation study. Journal of Business Venturing, 26, 375–390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2009.10.006 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chell, E. (2008). The entrepreneurial personality: A social construction. New York, NY: Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheng, C., Cheung, S. F., Chio, J. H., & Chan, M. P. (2013). Cultural meaning of perceived control: A meta-analysis of locus of control and psychological symptoms across 18 cultural regions. Psychological Bulletin, 39, 152–188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0028596 Google Scholar
Costa, H., Ripoll, P., Sánchez, M., & Carvalho, C. (2013). Emotional intelligence and self-efficacy: Effects on psychological well-being in college students. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 16, E50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2013.39 Google Scholar
Covin, J. G., & Wales, W. J. (2012). The measurement of entrepreneurial orientation. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 36, 677–702. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2010.00432.x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Downing, S. M. (2006). Twelve steps for effective test development. In Downing, S. M. & Haladyna, T. M. (Eds.), Handbook of test development (pp. 3–25). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Fonseca-Pedrero, E., Lemos-Giráldez, S., Paino, M., Villazón-García, U., & Muñiz, J. (2009). Validation of the schizotypal personality questionnaire brief form in adolescents. Schizophrenia Research, 111, 53–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2009.03.006 Google Scholar
Gartner, W. B. (1989). “Who is an entrepreneur?” is the wrong question. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 12, 47–68.Google Scholar
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2012). The word´s largest study of entrepreneurship. London, UK: London Business School. Retrieved from www.gemconsortium.org Google Scholar
Gomez-Benito, J., Hidalgo, M. D., & Zumbo, B. D. (2013). Effectiveness of combining statistical tests and effect sizes when using logistic discriminant function regression to detect differential item functioning for polytomous items. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 73(5), 875–897. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013164413492419 Google Scholar
Hidalgo, M. D., Gómez, J., & Padilla, J. L. (2005). Logistic regression: Analytic strategies in differential item functioning detection. Psicothema, 17, 509–515.Google Scholar
Hisrich, R., Langan-Fox, J., & Grant, S. (2007). Entrepreneurship research and practice: A call to action for psychology. American Psychologist, 62, 575–589. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.6.575 Google Scholar
Jang, K. L., Livesley, W. J., Ando, J., Yamagata, S., Suzuki, A., Angleitner, A., … Spinath, F. (2006). Behavioral genetics of the higher-order factors of the Big Five, 41, 261–272. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.033 Google Scholar
Koellinger, P. (2008). Why are some entrepreneurs more innovative than others? Small Business Economics, 31, 21–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11187-008-9107-0 Google Scholar
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1986). Estrés y procesos cognitivos [Stress and cognitive processes]. Barcelona, Spain: Martínez Roca.Google Scholar
López, J., & García, J. (2011). Dispositional optimism, pessimism and realism in technological potential entrepreneurs. Psicothema, 23, 611–616.Google Scholar
Lozano, L. M., García-Cueto, E., & Muñiz, J. (2008). Effect of the number of response categories on the reliability and validity of rating scales. Methodology, 4, 73–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/1614-2241.4.2.73 Google Scholar
Moore, S., & Gullone, E. (1996). Predicting adolescent risk behavior using a personalized cost benefit analysis. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 25, 343–359. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01537389 Google Scholar
Moreno, R., Martínez, R., & Muñiz, J. (2006). New guidelines for developing multiple-choice items. Methodology, 2, 65–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/1614-2241.2.2.65 Google Scholar
Muñiz, J., Fidalgo, A. M., García-Cueto, E., Martínez, R., & Moreno, R. (2005). Análisis de los items [Item analysis]. Madrid, Spain: La Muralla.Google Scholar
Obschonka, M., Schmitt-Rodermund, E., Silbereisen, R. K., Gosling, S. D., & Potter, J. (2013). The regional distribution and correlates of an entrepreneurship-prone personality profile in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom: A socioecological perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105, 104–122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0032275 Google Scholar
Penfield, R. D., & Giacobbi, P. R. (2004) Applying a score confidence interval to Aiken’s item content-relevance index. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 8, 213–225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327841mpee0804_3 Google Scholar
Peterman, N. E., & Kennedy, J. (2003). Enterprise education: Influencing students' perceptions of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 28, 129–144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1540-6520.2003.00035.x Google Scholar
Rauch, A., & Frese, M. (2007a). Let’s put the person back into entrepreneurship research: A meta-analysis on the relationship between business owners’ personality traits, business creation, and success. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology 16, 353–385. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13594320701595438 Google Scholar
Rauch, A., & Frese, M. (2007b). Born to be an entrepreneur? Revisiting the personality approach to entrepreneurship. In Baum, J. R., Frese, M., & Baron, R. J. (Eds.), The psychology of entrepreneurship (pp. 41–65). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Rius, F., Barón, F. J., Sánchez, E., & Parras, L. (1997). Bioestadística: Métodos y aplicaciones [Biostatistics: Methods and applications]. Málaga, Spain: Universidad de Málaga.Google Scholar
Sánchez, J. C. (2011). Entrepreneurship as a legitimate field of knowledge. Psicothema, 23, 427–432.Google ScholarPubMed
Sánchez, J. L., Serradilla, F., Martínez, E., & Bobadilla, J. (2008). Choice of metrics used is collaborative filtering and their impact on recommender systems. (pp. 432–436) Madrid, Spain: Digital Ecosystems and Technologies. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/DEST.2008.4635147 Google Scholar
Schmitt-Rodermund, E. (2004). Pathways to successful entrepreneurship: Parenting, personality, early entrepreneurial competence, and interests. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 65, 498–518. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2003.10.007 Google Scholar
Shane, S., & Venkataraman, S. (2000). The promise of entrepreneurship as a field of research. Academy of Management Review, 25, 217–226. http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/AMR.2000.2791611 Google Scholar
Shepperd, J. A., Carroll, P., Grace, J., & Terry, M. (2002). Exploring the causes of comparative optimism. Psychologica Belgica, 42, 65–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Souitaris, V., Zerbinati, S., & Al-Laham, A. (2007). Do entrepreneurship programmes raiseentrepreneurial intention of science and engineering students? The effect of learning, inspiration and resources. Journal of Business Venturing, 22, 566–591. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2006.05.002 Google Scholar
Suárez-Álvarez, J., Campillo-Álvarez, A., Fonseca-Pedrero, E., García-Cueto, E., & Muñiz, J. (2013). Professional training in the workplace: The role of achievement motivation and locus of control. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 16, E35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2013.19 Google Scholar
Tyszka, T., Cieslik, J., Domurat, A., & Macko, A. (2011). Motivation, self-efficacy, and risk attitudes among entrepreneurs during transition to a market economy. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 40, 124–131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2011.01.011 Google Scholar
Van Gelderen, M., & Jansen, P. (2006). Autonomy as a start-up motive. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 13, 23–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14626000610645289 Google Scholar
Wincent, J., & Örtqvist, D. (2009a). Role stress and entrepreneurship research. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 5, 1–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11365-006-0017-9 Google Scholar
Wincent, J., & Örtqvist, D. (2009b). A comprehensive model of entrepreneur role stress antecedents and consequences. Journal of Business and Psychology, 24, 225–243. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10869-009-9102-8 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yordanova, D. I., & Alexandrona-Boshnakova, M. I. (2011). Gender effects on risk-taking entrepreneurs: Evidence from Bulgaria. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 17, 272–295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13552551111130718 Google Scholar
Zhao, H., Seibert, S. E. & Lumpkin, G. T. (2010). The relationship of personality to entrepreneurial intentions and performance: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Management, 36, 381–404.Google Scholar
Zumbo, B. D. (1999). A handbook on the theory and methods of Differential Item Functioning (DIF): Logistic regression modeling as a unitary framework for binary and likert-type (ordinal) item scores. Ottawa, Canada: Directorate of Human Resources Research and Evaluation, Department of National Defense.Google Scholar