Measuring entrepreneurial attitudes inter-culturally: Is it possible?

A B Boshoff,C Hoole

doi:10.4102/sajems.v1i2.1878

A B Boshoff, C Hoole

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v1i2.1878

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Abstract

Non-portability of constructs is seen as a potential problem in international research. Studying attitudes as an approach to understanding entrepreneurs is seen as potentially profitable in order to understand members of this entrepreneurs. The construct validity of the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation Scale (as adapted) when used on a South African sample is psychometrically examined by means of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. It is found that the factor structure differs from that established on a North American sample. Portability of constructs embodied in measuring instruments seems to be a significant problem when research is contemplated on an international scale.

Highlights

According to a recent review of the literature on the characteristics of entrepreneurs Hoole (1996) indicated that studies in this field had initially dealt with the personality traits and demographic/biographic backgrounds of entrepreneurs
For instance, made by Robinson, Stimpson, Huefner and Hunt (1991) to determine whether entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs differed in terms of certain attitudes, the argument being that attitudes are "closer" to behaviour than general personality traits and can be changed more readily than more fundamental characteristics - which could be important and useful in terms of the development of entrepreneurs Robinson et al (1991) argued that certain attitudes i.e. towards achievement, innovation, self-esteem and personal control in business situations
In the first round of this analyses an attempt was made to replicate the five factor structure defined by the authors of the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation Scale (EAOS) (Robinson, et aI, 1991)

Summary

Introduction

According to a recent review of the literature on the characteristics of entrepreneurs Hoole (1996) indicated that studies in this field had initially dealt with the personality traits and demographic/biographic backgrounds of entrepreneurs. This did not prove to be very fruitful and various other approaches e.g. dealing with the managerial behaviour of entrepreneurs (Lau, 1992), were proposed in order to learn more about entrepreneurs and their functioning. According to Hoole (1996) a further Z (and later) determining the characteristics of entrepreneurs consisted of studying the attitudes of individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities. The question which will be addressed in this paper is whether it will have acceptable psychometric qualities when used in another culture, viz in South Africa

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