Abstract
Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, the main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify gender-related differences in the levels of and the interrelations among attitude toward entrepreneurship, perceived behavioral control, and entrepreneurial intention using multi-group structural equations modeling in which the dimensions of these constructs were disentangled and treated as latent variables that were indirectly inferred from multiple indicators. The sample of the study consisted of 441 Greek tertiary education undergraduate information technology students. The results showed that attitude consists of two components—one instrumental and one affective; perceived behavioral control is comprised of two factors—perceived self-efficacy and perceived controllability; and entrepreneurial intention is best represented by three factors—choice intention, commitment to entrepreneurship, and nascent entrepreneurship. The findings indicated further that affective attitude and perceived self-efficacy are by far the strongest predictors of intention, thus highlighting the role of emotions in the entrepreneurial process. Our work revealed also that the relationship between commitment to entrepreneurship and nascent entrepreneurship is stronger in men than in women. Conceiving nascent entrepreneurship as a proxy for entrepreneurial behavior, this finding implies that gender is a moderator of the entrepreneurial intention-action translation. Despite its limitations, this study makes some important contributions and implications to the literature of entrepreneurship. These and future research suggestions are also discussed.
Highlights
In light of the growing recognition of the role of entrepreneurship as a decisive factor for economic development and as key enabler of innovation (Acs & Audretsch, 2003; Audretsch & Thurik, 2001, 2004; Engle et al, 2010; European Commission, 2012; Vamvaka et al Journal of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipFayolle & Todorov, 2011; Lazear, 2005), theorizing and research have started to focus, since many years ago, their attention on developing models for understanding and potentially predicting entrepreneurial behavior
The Theory of planned behavior (TPB) assumes that the immediate antecedent of a specific voluntary deliberative behavior is a person’s intention to engage in the behavior, while intention follows from the person’s attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) which are the proximal antecedents of a behavioral intention
Our work has further revealed that the relationship between commitment to entrepreneurship and nascent entrepreneurship is stronger in men than in women, implying that gender is a moderator of the intention-entrepreneurial behavior link
Summary
In light of the growing recognition of the role of entrepreneurship as a decisive factor for economic development and as key enabler of innovation (Acs & Audretsch, 2003; Audretsch & Thurik, 2001, 2004; Engle et al, 2010; European Commission, 2012; Vamvaka et al Journal of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipFayolle & Todorov, 2011; Lazear, 2005), theorizing and research have started to focus, since many years ago, their attention on developing models for understanding and potentially predicting entrepreneurial behavior. Given a sufficient degree of actual control over the behavior, people are expected to carry out their intentions when the opportunity arises (Ajzen, 2006). Both theoretical justification and empirical evidence suggest that attitude (e.g., Goethner, Obschonka, Silbereisen, & Cantner, 2009), PBC (e.g., Schlaegel & Koenig, 2014), and entrepreneurial intention (e.g., Thompson, 2009) should be considered and treated as multidimensional constructs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
