Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Entrepreneurial intentions: is education enough?

  • Published:
International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education has played an important role in promoting entrepreneurial intentions and furthering the development of enterprising citizens. Thus, education and training can contribute towards increasing management knowledge and developing the psychological attributes and behaviours associated with entrepreneurship. This study therefore seeks to compare the psychological attributes and behaviours associated with entrepreneurship, as well as entrepreneurial intentions among girls attending a business school and boys attending a sports school. It was expected that the scores recorded for entrepreneurial behaviour and intentions would be higher at the girls’ business school, where entrepreneurship education is deeply incorporated into the curriculum, but the results showed that, despite their nor receiving any kind of entrepreneurship education, the boys at the neighbouring sports school, tended to have a greater intention of starting up a business, which suggests that there are other factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajzen, I. (2001). Nature and operation of attitudes. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 27–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: an introduction to theory and research. Reading: Adison-Wesley Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkovic, D., & Kruzic, D. (2010). Students’ perception and intentions towards entrepreneurship: the empirical findings from Croatia. The Business Review, 14(2), 209–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron, A. (1998). Cognitive mechanisms in entrepreneurship: why and when entrepreneurs think differently than other people. Journal of Business Venturing, 13, 275–294. doi:10.1016/S0883-9026 (97)00031-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R., Markman, G., & Hirza, A. (2001). Perceptions of women and men as entrepreneurs: evidence for differential effects of attributional augmenting. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(5), 923–929. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.86.5.923.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhandari, N. (2006). Intention for Entrepreneurship among students in India. The Journal of Entrepreneurship, 15(2), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bird, B. J. (1989). Entrepreneurial behavior. Glenview: Scott Foresman and Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosma, N., Wenneckers, S., & Amorós, J. E. (2011). GEM 2011 Extended Report: Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurial Employees Across the Globe. Research Association (GERA).

  • Brice, J. (2004). The role of personality dimensions on the formation of entrepreneurial intentions. In USASBE small business advancement National Center. USA: University of Central Arkansas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockhaus, R. H. (1980). Risk taking propensity of entrepreneurs. Academy of Management Journal, 23(3), 509–520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brush, C. D. (1992). Research on women business owners: past trends, a new perspective, and future directions. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 16(4), 5–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byabashaija, W., & Katono, I. (2011). The impact of college entrepreneurial education on entrepreneurial attitudes and intention to start a business in Uganda. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 16(1), 127–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bygrave, W. D. (1989). The entrepreneurship paradigm (I): a philosophical look at its research methodologies. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 14, 7–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carland, J.W., Hoy, F., & Carland, J.A. (1988). ‘Who is the entrepreneur?’ is a question worth asking. American Journal of Small Business, Spring, 33–39.

  • Chell, E., & Haworth, J. (1993). Profiling entrepreneurs: Multiple perspectives and consequent methodological considerations. In H. Klandt (Ed.), Entrepreneurship and business development (pp. 251–260). Aldershot: Avebury.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crant, J. M. (1996). The proactive personality scale as a predictor of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Small Business Management, 34(3), 42–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidsson, P. (1989). Continued entrepreneurship and small firm business. Stockholm: Stockholm School of Economics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidsson, P., & Wiklund, J. (1999). Suitable approaches for studying small firm growth: the role of entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises. In Proceedings of the 44th ICSB World Conference, June 20–23, Italy.

  • DeMartino, R., & Barbato, R. (2003). Differences between women and men MBA entrepreneurs: exploring family flexibility and wealth creation as career motivators. Journal of Business Venturing, 18, 815–832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz-Casero, J. C., Ferreira, J., Hernández Mogollón, R., & Raposo, M. (2012). Influence of institutional environment on entrepreneurial intention: a comparative study of two countries’ university students. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 8, 55–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz-García, M. C., & Jiménez-Moreno, J. (2010). Entrepreneurial intention: the role of gender. International Entrepreneurship Management Journal, 6, 261–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drucker, P. F. (1985). Innovation and entrepreneurship. New York: Harper & Row Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutta, D. K., Li, J., & Merenda, M. (2011). Fostering entrepreneurship: impact of specialization and diversity in education. International Entrepreneurship Management Journal, 7, 163–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2006). Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through education and learning, 13.2.2006, COM (2006) 33, last accessed on February 12, 2011. Retrieved from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2006:0033:FIN:EN:PDF

  • European Commission (2004). Action Plan: The European agenda for Entrepreneurship, COM (2004) 70, last accessed on 11.02.2004. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/incubators/docs/action_plan_on_entrepreneurship.pdf.

  • European Commission (2003). Green paper on Entrepreneurship in Europe. Brussels. Retrieved from http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/other/n26023_en.htm

  • Ferreira, J., Raposo, M., Rodrigues, R., Dinis, A., & Paço, A. (2012). A model of entrepreneurial intention: an application of the psychological and behavioral approaches. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 19(3), 424–440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florin, J., Karri, R., & Rossiter, N. (2007). Fostering entrepreneurial drive in business education: an attitudinal approach. Journal of Management Education, 31(1), 17–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaglio, C., & Katz, J. (2001). The psychological basis of opportunity identification: entrepreneurial alertness. Small Business Economics, 16(2), 95–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gartner, W.B. (1989). ‘Who is an entrepreneur?’ is the wrong question. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Summer, 47–68.

  • Gibb, A., & Ritchie, J. (1982). Understanding the process of starting small businesses. European Small Business Journal, 1(1), 26–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, C., Hill, F., & Leitch, C. (2005). Entrepreneurship education and training: can entrepreneurship be taught? Part I. Education & Training, 47(2/3), 98–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hisrich, R. D., & Peters, M. P. (1998). Entrepreneurship (4th ed.). Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hmieleski, K., & Corbett, C. (2006). Proclivity for improvisation as a predictor of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Small Business Management, 44(1), 45–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, T. S., & Koh, H. C. (1992). Differences in psychological characteristics between entrepreneurially inclined and non-entrepreneurially inclined accounting graduates in Singapore. Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Change: An International Journal, 1, 243–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, J., Drennan, J., Renfrow, P., & Watson, B. (2003). Situational factors and entrepreneurial intentions. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Conference of the Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand. Ballarat.

  • Kirby, D. (2006). Creating entrepreneurial universities in the UK: applying entrepreneurship theory to practice. Journal of Technology Transfer, 31, 599–603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, D. (2004). Entrepreneurship education: can business schools meet the challenge? Education & Training, 46(8/9), 510–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koh, H. C. (1996). Testing hypotheses of entrepreneurial characteristics – a study of Hong Kong MBA students. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 11(3), 12–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, N.F. (2005). The cognitive psychology of entrepreneurship. In Zoltan J. Acs, & David B. Audretsch (eds.), International Handbook Series on Entrepreneurship, Handbook of Entrepreneurship Research An Interdisciplinary Survey and Introduction, Volume 1, doi:10.1007/b105789.

  • Krueger, N. F., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(5–6), 411–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuip, I., & Verheul, I. (2003). Early development of entrepreneurial qualities: the role of initial education. EIM Business & Policy Research, SCALES-paper N200311.

  • Kyrö, P. (2006). The continental and Anglo-American approaches to entrepreneurship education – differences and bridges. In A. Fayolle & H. Klandt (Eds.), International entrepreneurship education, issues and newness (pp. 93–111). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S., Lim, S., & Pathank, R. (2006). Influences on students attitudes toward entrepreneurship: a multi-country study. International Entrepreneurship Management Journal, 2, 351–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, W. (2006). Entrepreneurial intention among international students: Testing a model of entrepreneurial intention. Arkansas: University of Central Arkansas, USASBE Small Business Advancement National Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lim, S., & Envick, B. R. (2011). Gender and entrepreneurial orientation: a multi-country study. International Entrepreneurship Management Journal. doi:10.1007/s11365-011-0183-2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liñán, F., & Chen, Y.-W. (2007). Development and cross-cultural application of a specific instrument to measure entrepreneurial intentions. Spain: Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. Paper presented in a seminar at the European Doctoral Programme in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littunen, H., & Virtanen, M. (2006). Differentiating growing ventures from non-growth firms. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 2(1), 93–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, B., Bell, J., Palmer, M., Gonzalez, A., & Petroleum, P. (2009). Predictors of entrepreneurial intentions: a quasi-experiment comparing students enrolled in introductory management and entrepreneurship classes. Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, 21(2), 39–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, R., Smith, B., Seawright, K., & Morse, E. (2000). Cross-cultural cognitions and the venture creation decision. Academy of Management Journal, 43(5), 974–993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitton, D. G. (1989). The complete entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, 13, 9–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, S. L., & Dato-On, M. C. (2011). A cross cultural study of gender-role orientation and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. International Entrepreneurship Management Journal. doi:10.1007/s11365-011-0187-y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, S. L., & Dato-On, M. C. (2008). Gender-role orientation as a determinant of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 13(1), 3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nabi, G., Holden, R., & Walmsley, A. (2010). Entrepreneurial intentions among students: towards a re-focused research agenda. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 17(4), 537–551. doi:10.1108/14626001011088714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narayanasamy, K., Rasiah, D., & Jacobs, C. J. (2011). An empirical study of factors influencing gender differences in entrepreneurship. The International Business & Economics Research Journal, 10(10), 17–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oosterbeek, H., van Praag, M., & Ijsselstein, A. (2010). The impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurship skills and motivation. European Economic Review, 54, 442–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterman, N.E., & Kennedy, J. (2003). Enterprise education influencing students’ perceptions of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Winter, 129–144.

  • Radu, M., & Redien-Collot, R. (2008). The social representation of entrepreneurs in the French press: desirable and feasible models? International Small Business Journal, 26(3), 259–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rae, D. (2010). Universities and enterprise education: responding to the challenges of the new era. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 17(4), 591–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, P.D., Hay, M., & Camp, S. M. (1999). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: 1999 – Executive Report. Babson College, London Business School and the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

  • Robinson, P. B., Stimpson, D. V., Huefner, J. C., & Hunt, H. K. (1991). An attitude approach to the prediction of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 15, 13–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez, J. C. (2010). University training for entrepreneurial competencies: its impact on intention of venture creation. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, April, 1–16.

  • Sánchez-Escobedo, M. C., Díaz-Casero, J. C., Hernández-Mogollón, R., & Postigo-Jiménez, M. V. (2011). Perceptions and attitudes towards entrepreneurship. An analysis of gender among university students. International Entrepreneurship Management Journal, 7, 443–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shane, S., & Venkataraman, S. (2000). The promise of entrepreneurship as a field of research. Academy of Management Review, 25, 217–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapero, A. (1982). The social dimensions of entrepreneurship. In C. A. Kent, D. L. Sexton, & K. Vesper (Eds.), The encyclopedia of entrepreneurship (pp. 72–90). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinnar, R.S., Giacomin, O., & Janssen, F. (2012). Entrepreneurial perceptions and intentions: the role of gender and culture. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, May, 465–493.

  • Vesper, K. H. (1990). New ventures strategies. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vesper, K. H., & Gartner, W.B. (1999). University entrepreneurship programmes 1999, University of Southern California: Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

  • von Graevenitz, G., Harhoff, D., & Weber, R. (2010). The effects of entrepreneurship education. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 76(1), 90–112. doi:10.1016/j.je.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welter, F., Smallbone, D., Isakova, N., & Aculai, E. (2007). The role of gender for entrepreneurship in transition context. In L. Iandoli, M. Raffa, & H. Landström (Eds.), Frontiers in European research. Cheltenham: Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wincent, J., & Örtqvist. (2009). A comprehensive model of entrepreneur role stress antecedents and consequences. Journal of Business and Psychology, 24, 225–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z., Zyphur, M. J., Narayanan, J., Arvey, R. D., Chaturvedi, S., Avolio, B. J., Lichtenstein, P., & Larsson, G. (2009). The genetic basis of entrepreneurship: effects of gender and personality. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 110, 93–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Dr. Kathryn Loughnan – Director of Enterprise & Unique Ethos at Avonbourne School.

NECE – R&D Centre funded by the Multi-annual Funding Programme for R&D Centres of FCT (the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology), Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business and Economics, Research Unit NECE, University of Beira Interior, Estrada do Sineiro, 6200-209, Covilhã, Portugal

    Arminda do Paço, João Matos Ferreira, Mário Raposo, Ricardo Gouveia Rodrigues & Anabela Dinis

Authors
  1. Arminda do Paço
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. João Matos Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mário Raposo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ricardo Gouveia Rodrigues
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anabela Dinis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arminda do Paço.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 7 Constructs and indicators of the questionnaire
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

do Paço, A., Ferreira, J.M., Raposo, M. et al. Entrepreneurial intentions: is education enough?. Int Entrep Manag J 11, 57–75 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-013-0280-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-013-0280-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation