Abstract
This research integrates perspectives from models of entrepreneurial intentions and attitude theory to examine the nature of the relationship between business students’ attitudes toward innovation and their intentions to start their own businesses. Multiple regression analysis revealed a positive association between attitude toward the distal and broad object of innovation and intentions of US business students to engage in the specific behavior of starting a business. Multiple mediation analysis revealed this association is partially mediated by attitudes toward the proximal and specific object of starting a business, operationalized as perceived desirability and feasibility of starting a business. As attitudes are open to change, opportunities exist for educators and practitioners to affect entrepreneurial intentions by affecting attitudes toward relevant, broad objects, such as innovation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abelson, R. P. (1982). Three models of attitude-behavior consistency. In M. P. Zanna, E. T. Higgins, & C. P. Herman (Eds.), Consistency in social behavior: The Ontario symposium (Vol. 2, pp. 131–146). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.
Ajzen, I. (1982). On behaving in accordance with one’s attitudes. In M. P. Zanna, E. T. Higgins, & C. P. Herman (Eds.), Consistency in social behavior: The Ontario symposium (Vol. 2, pp. 3–15). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.
Ajzen, I. (1987). Attitudes, traits, and actions: dispositional prediction of behavior in social psychology. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 20, 1–63.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 1–63.
Ajzen, I. (2002). Perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, locus of control, and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 1–20.
Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
Albarracin, D., Johnson, B. T., Fishbein, M., & Muellerleile, P. A. (2001). Theories of reasoned action and planned behavior a.s models of condom use: a meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 142–161.
Aldrich, H. E., & Martinez, M. A. (2001). Many are called, but few are chosen: an evolutionary perspective for the study of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 19(4), 41–56.
Allport, G. W. (1935). Attitudes. In C. Murchison (Ed.), Handbook of social psychology (pp. 798–884). Worcester: Clark University.
Amason, A. C., Shrader, R. C., & Tompson, G. H. (2006). Newness and novelty: relating top management team composition to new venture performance. Journal of Business Venturing, 21(1), 125–148.
Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2001). Efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour: a meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 47t–499t.
Atkinson, J. W. (1964). An introduction to motivation. Princeton: Van Nostrand.
Audretsch, D. B. (2007). The entrepreneurial society. New York: Oxford University Press.
Autio, E., Keeley, R. H., Klofsten, M., Parker, G. G. C., & Hay, M. (2001). Entrepreneurial intent among students in Scandinavia and in the USA. Enterprise and Innovation Management Studies, 2, 145–160.
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
Bird, B. (1988). Implementing entrepreneurial ideas: the case of intentions. Academy of Management Review, 13(3), 442–454.
Bollen, K. A. (1987). Total, direct, and indirect effects in structural equation models. Sociological Methodology, 17, 37–69.
Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York: Wiley.
Breckler, S. J. (1984). Empirical validation of affect, behavior, and cognition as distinct components of attitude. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 1191–1205.
Brockhaus, R. (1987). Entrepreneurial folklore. Journal of Small Business Management, 25(3), 1–6.
Brockhaus, R. H., & Horwitz, P. S. (1982). The psychology of the entrepreneur. In D. L. Sexton & R. W. Smilor (Eds.), The art and science of entrepreneurship (pp. 25–48). Cambridge: Ballinger.
Brown, R. L. (1997). Assessing specific mediational effects in complex theoretical models. Structural Equation Modeling, 4, 142–156.
Bruton, G. D., & Rubanik, Y. (2002). Resources of the firm, Russian high-technology start-ups, and firm growth. Journal of Business Venturing, 17(6), 553–576.
Carland, J. W., Hoy, F., Boulton, W. R., & Carland, J. C. (1984). Differentiating entrepreneurs from small business owners: a conceptualization. Academy of Management Review, 9(2), 354–359.
Carter, N. M., Gartner, W. B., Shaver, K. G., & Gatewood, E. J. (2003). The career reasons of nascent entrepreneurs. Journal of Business Venturing, 18, 13–39.
Chaiken, S., & Stangor, C. (1987). Attitudes and attitude change. Annual Review of Psychology, 38, 575–630.
Cordano, M., & Frieze, I. H. (2000). Pollution reduction preferences of U.S. environmental managers: applying Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. Academy of Management Journal, 43(4), 527–541.
Crandall, R. (1973). Measurement of self-esteem and related constructs. In J. P. Robinson & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Measurement of social psychological attitudes. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.
Crant, M. J. (1996). The proactive personality scale as a predictor of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Small Business Management, 34(3), 42–49.
Damanpour, F., & Wischnevsky, J. D. (2006). Research on innovation in organizations: distinguishing innovation-generating from innovation-adopting organizations. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 23(4), 269–291.
Davidsson, P. (1991). Continued entrepreneurship: ability, need, and opportunity as determinants of small firm growth. Journal of Business Venturing, 6, 405–429.
Delmar, F., & Davidsson, P. (2000). Where do they come from? Prevalence and characteristics of nascent entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 12, 1–23.
Diaz-Garcia, M. C., & Jimenez-Moreno, J. (2010). Entrepreneurial intention: the role of gender. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 6, 261–283.
Fayolle, A., & DeGeorge, J.-M. (2006). Attitudes, intentions, and behaviour: New approaches to evaluating entrepreneurship education. In A. Fayolle & H. Klandt (Eds.), International entrepreneurship education. Issues and newness (pp. 74–89). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (2010). Predicting and changing behavior: The reasoned action approach. New York: Taylor.
Fox, J. (1985). Effects analysis in structural equation models II: calculation of specific indirect effects. Sociological Methods & Research, 14, 81–95.
Gartner, W. B. (1989). Some suggestions for research on entrepreneurial traits and characteristics. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 14(1), 27–37.
Gartner, W. B., Shaver, K. G., Gatewood, E., & Katz, J. A. (1994). Finding the entrepreneur in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 18, 5–9.
Gasse, Y. (1985). A strategy for the promotion and identification of potential entrepreneurs at the secondary school level. In J. A. Homaday, B. Shils, J. A. Timmons, & K. H. Vesper (Eds.), Frontiers of entrepreneurship research (pp. 538–559). Wellesley: Babson College.
Gupta, V. K., Turban, D. B., Wasti, S. A., & Sikdar, A. (2009). The role of gender stereotypes in perceptions of entrepreneurs and intentions to become an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(2), 397–417.
Harman, H. H. (1967). Modern factor analysis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Heider, F. (1958). The psychology of interpersonal relations. New York: John Wiley.
Heunks, F. J. (1998). Innovation, creativity and success. Small Business Economics, 10(3), 263–272.
Hitt, M. A., Ireland, D., Camp, M., & Sexton, D. (2001). Strategic entrepreneurship: entrepreneurial strategies for wealth creation. Strategic Management Journal, 22, 479–491.
Hmieleski, K. M., & Corbett, A. C. (2006). Proclivity for improvisation as a predictor of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Small Business Management, 44(1), 45–63.
Huang, C. J., & Liu, C. J. (2005). Exploration for the relationship between innovation, IT and performance. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 6(2), 237–252.
Huefner, J. C., & Hunt, H. K. (1994). Broadening the concept of entrepreneurship: comparing business and consumer entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 18(3), 61–76.
Katz, J., & Gartner, W. (1988). Properties of emerging organizations. Academy of Management Review, 13, 429–441.
Kim, M., & Hunter, J. (1993). Relationships among attitudes, intentions and behavior. Communication Research, 20, 331–364.
Kirton, M. (1976). Adaptors and innovators: a description and measure. Journal of Applied Psychology, 61, 622–629.
Kirton, M. (1978). Have adaptors and innovators equal levels of creativity. Psychological Reports, 42, 695–698.
Kolvereid, L. (1996). Organisational employment versus self employment: reasons for career choice intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 20(3), 23–31.
Krasner, O. J. (1982). The role of entrepreneurs in innovation. In C. A. Kent, D. L. Sexton, & K. H. Vesper (Eds.), Encyclopedia of entrepreneurship (pp. 277–281). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Krueger, N. (1993). Impact of prior entrepreneurial exposure on perceptions of new venture feasibility and desirability. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 18(1), 5–21.
Krueger, N., & Brazeal, D. V. (1994). Entrepreneurial potential and potential entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 18(3), 91–104.
Krueger, N., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(5–6), 411–432.
Lee, S. H., & Wong, P. K. (2004). An exploratory study of technopreneurial intentions: a career anchor perspective. Journal of Business Venturing, 19, 7–28.
Lee, L., Wong, P. K., Foo, M. D., & Leung, A. (2011). Entrepreneurial intentions: the influence of organizational and individual factors. Journal of Business Venturing, 26, 124–136.
Levenson, H. (1973). Multidimensional locus of control in psychiatric patients. Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, 41, 397–404.
Liñán, F. (2008). Skill and value perceptions: how do they affect entrepreneurial intentions? International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 4(3), 257–272.
Liñán, F., & Chen, Y. W. (2009). Development and cross-cultural application of a specific instrument to measure entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(3), 593–617.
Liñán, F., Urbano, D., & Guerrero, M. (2011). Regional variations in entrepreneurial cognitions: start-up intentions of university students in Spain. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 23(3&4), 187–215.
Liñán, F., Rodriguez-Cohard, J. C., & Rueda-Cantuche, J. M. (2011). Factors affecting entrepreneurial intentions levels: a role for education. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 7, 195–218.
Low, M. B., & MacMillan, I. C. (1988). Entrepreneurship: past research and future challenges. Journal of Management, 14, 139–161.
Luthje, C., & Franke, N. (2003). The ‘Making’ of an entrepreneur: testing a model of entrepreneurial intent among engineering students at MIT. R&D Management, 33(2), 135–147.
MacKinnon, D. P. (2000). Contrasts in multiple mediator models. In J. Rose, L. Chassin, C. C. Presson, & S. J. Sherman (Eds.), Multivariate applications in substance use research: New methods for new questions (pp. 141–160). Mahwah: Erlbaum.
MacKinnon, D. P. (2008). Introduction to statistical mediation analysis. New York: Erlbaum.
MacMillan, I., & Katz, J. (1992). Idiosyncratic milieus of entrepreneurship research: the need for comprehensive theories. Journal of Business Venturing, 7, 1–8.
McClelland, D. (1961). The achieving society. New York: Van Nostrand.
McClelland, D. C., Atkinson, J. W., Clark, R. A., & Lowell, L. (1953). The achievement motive. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
McCline, R. L., Bhat, S., & Baj, P. (2000). Opportunity recognition: an exploratory investigation of a component of the entrepreneurial process in the context of the health care industry. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 25(2), 81–95.
Neter, J., Kutner, M. H., Wasserman, W., & Nachtsheim, C. J. (1996). Applied linear statistical models (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Social research methods. Boston: AUyn and Bacon.
Obschonka, M., Goethner, M., Silbereisen, R. K., & Cantner, U. (2012). Social identity and the transition to entrepreneurship: the role of group identification with workplace peers. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80, 137–147.
Obschanka, M., Silbereisen, R. K., & Schmitt-Rodermund, E. (2010). Entrepreneurial intention as developmental outcome. Journal of Vocational Behavior 77, 63–72.
Ostrom, T. M. (1969). The relationship between the affective, behavioral, and cognitive components of attitude. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 5, 12–30.
Perez-Luno, A., Wiklund, J., & Valle-Cabrera, R. (2011). The dual nature of innovative activity: How entrepreneurial orientation influences innovation generation and adoption. Journal of Business Venturing, 26, 555–571.
Peterman, N. E., & Kennedy, K. (2003). Enterprise education: influencing students’ perceptions of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 28(2), 129–144.
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 879–903.
Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavioral Research Methods, 40, 879–891.
Reynolds, P. D., Bygrave, W. D., Aution, E., Cox, L. W., & Hay, M. (2002). Global entrepreneurship monitor. Kansas City: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Robinson, P. B., & Sexton, E. A. (1994). The effect of education and experience on self-employment success. Journal of Business Venturing, 9, 141–157.
Robinson, P., Stimpson, D. V., Huefner, J. C., & Hunt, H. K. (1991). An attitude approach to the prediction of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 15(4), 13–31.
Rosenberg, M. J., & Hovland, C. I. (1960). Cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of attitudes. In M. J. Rosenberg, C. I. Hovland, W. J. McGuire, R. P. Abelson, & J. W. Brehm (Eds.), Attitude organization and change: An analysis of consistency among attitude components. New Haven: Yale University.
Roure, J. B., & Maidique, M. A. (1986). Linking prefunding factors and high technology venture success: an exploratory study. Journal of Business Venturing, 1(3), 295–306.
Scherer, R., Adams, J., Carley, S., & Wiebe, F. (1989). Role model performance effects on development of entrepreneurial career preference. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 13, 53–81.
Schollhammer, H. (1982). Internal corporate entrepreneurship. In C. A. Kent, D. L. Sexton, & K. H. Vesper (Eds.), Encyclopedia of entrepreneurship (pp. 209–229). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Schumpeter, J. (1934). The theory of economic development. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Schumpeter, J. (1939). Business cycles. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Shane, S., & Venkataraman, S. (2000). The promise of entrepreneurship as a field of research. Academy of Management Review, 25(1), 217–226.
Shapero, A., & Sokol, L. (1982). Social dimensions of entrepreneurship. In C. A. Kent, D. L. Sexton, & K. H. Vesper (Eds.), Encyclopedia of entrepreneurship (pp. 72–90). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Shaver, K. G. (1987). Principles of social psychology (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Winthrop.
Sheeran, P., & Orbell, S. (1998). Do intentions predict condom use? Meta-analysis and examination of six moderator variables. British Journal of Social Psychology, 37, 231–250.
Sheppard, B. H., Hartwick, J., & Warshaw, P. R. (1988). The theory of reasoned action: a meta analysis of past research with recommendation and future research. Journal of Consumer Research, 15, 325–343.
Shook, C. L., & Bratianu, C. (2010). Entrepreneurial intent in a transitional economy: an application of the theory of planned behavior to Romanian students. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 6, 231–247.
Shook, C. L., Priem, R. L., & McGee, J. E. (2003). Venture creation and the enterprising individual: a review and synthesis. Journal of Management, 29(3), 379–399.
Siegel, R., Siegel, E., & MacMillan, I. C. (1993). Characteristics distinguishing high-growth ventures. Journal of Business Venturing, 8(2), 169–180.
Sommer, L., & Haug, M. (2011). Intentions as a cognitive antecedent to international entrepreneurship-understanding the moderating roles of knowledge and experience. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 7, 111–142.
Souitaris, V., Zerbinati, S., & Al-Laham, A. (2007). Do entrepreneurship programmes raise entrepreneurial intention of science and engineering students? The effect of learning, inspiration and resources. Journal of Business Venturing, 22(4), 566–591.
Stewart, W. H., Jr., Watson, W. E., Carland, J. C., & Carland, J. W. (1998). A proclivity for entrepreneurship: a comparison of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and corporate managers. Journal of Business Venturing, 14, 189–214.
Thurik, A. R. (1996). Introduction: innovation and small business. Small Business Economics, 8(2), 175–176.
Tkachev, A., & Kolvereid, L. (1999). Self-employment intentions among russian students. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 11(3), 269–280.
Udell, G. (1982). Elaboration on entrepreneurs and innovation. In C. A. Kent, D. L. Sexton, & K. H. Vesper (Eds.), Encyclopedia of entrepreneurship (pp. 282–287). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Wilson, F., Kickul, J., & Marlino, D. (2007). Gender, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial career intentions: implications for entrepreneurship education. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 31(3), 387–406.
Zhao, H. S., Seibert, S. E., & Hills, G. E. (2005). The mediating role of self-efficacy in the development of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90, 1265–1272.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wurthmann, K. Business students’ attitudes toward innovation and intentions to start their own businesses. Int Entrep Manag J 10, 691–711 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-013-0249-4
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-013-0249-4