Investigating the role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and risk taking propensity on the entrepreneurial intentions of university students

Dissertant

al-Takriti, Tabarak

Thesis advisor

Mihtap, Salimi

Comitee Members

Suways, Ratib
al-Khuri, Abir
al-Arabiyat, Muhannad

University

Princess Sumaya University for Technology

Faculty

King Talal School of Business Technology

University Country

Jordan

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2017

English Abstract

Entrepreneurial intention, the internal means of identifying and later pursuing a business opportunity, is the best predictor of an individual’s risk-taking behaviour.

Students are considered nascent entrepreneurs because 1) they are most likely to take risks when starting their own venture, 2) they have the greatest need for employment, and 3) they face imminent career decisions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two variables – entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and risk-taking propensity – on entrepreneurial intentions of university students.

Specifically, the study empirically examined the moderating effect of education on the relationship between university students’ ESE and risk taking propensity on intention.

A questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 720 university students.

To test the relationship between the independent variables, dependent variable, and moderating effect, the study utilised simple regression and hierarchal regression methods.

Findings indicate that ESE and risk-taking propensity have a robust relationship with entrepreneurial intention generally, and with three constructs of entrepreneurial intention (general, high growth, and lifestyle) specifically.

Furthermore, education significantly moderated the relationship between ESE, and risk taking propensity with entrepreneurial intention.

The current study provides evidence for a robust relationship between ESE and the risktaking propensity associated with entrepreneurial intention.

Equally important, it provides the insight that education moderates the relationship of ESE and risk-taking propensity with entrepreneurial intention.

Accordingly, the results of this study can be utilized and applied to both pedagogical (university and high school curricula) and educational (e.g.

Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship) contexts to motivate students to create their own ventures

Main Subjects

Business Administration

Topics

• Universities
• Students
• Entrepreneurship
• Risk
• Self-efficacy

No. of Pages

64

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-743860