Need for achievement, locus of control and the prediction of business start-ups: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Personal characteristics of subjects were measured 11 years before the follow-up data were collected. The purpose of the study was to show whether a connection exists between Need for Achievement and Locus of Control of Reinforcement on the one hand and the Entrepreneurial Activity: Start of New Business on the other hand, and whether any gender-specific difference exists. Need for Achievement was measured in two ways, with a thematic apperception test (TAT) consisting of six pictures, and with the Cesarec–Marke Personality Schedule (CMPS). Locus of Control of Reinforcement was measured with Rotter’s Internal–External test. The results support neither n Achievement (TAT) nor Need for Achievement (CMPS) as having predictive validity on the Entrepreneurial Activity: Start of New Business. This could be said about both men and women. The results do support that Locus of Control has predictive validity. However, this holds only for men, not for women.