Entrepreneurship education effectiveness: does personality matter?

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the personality traits that are responsible for changes in entrepreneurial intention levels following an entrepreneurship education course. Design/methodology/approach This is a questionnaire-based survey employing a pretest-posttest group design. The first questionnaire was completed at the beginning of a university-level entrepreneurship course and a repeat one at the end of a semesterly course. A total of 315 university students from a Business School faculty of Business Administration participated voluntarily in the survey and completed both questionnaires. Findings Our findings indicate that specific personality traits (namely, Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Risk Aversion) can cause statistically significant changes in entrepreneurial intention levels upon the completion of the entrepreneurship course. Research limitations/implications It would be interesting to examine more characteristics of the sample such as gender, age, prior working experience, and parent’s employment type, among other variables. The results of this study should also be compared across ethnic groups, before drawing more generalizable conclusions. Additionally, with regard to personality, we tried to explain only changes in entrepreneurial intention, whereas many studies proposed an approach combining variables, such as the triad of elements of the Theory of Planned Behavior (Perceived behavioral control, Social Norms and Personal attitude toward entrepreneurship). Practical implications The findings of this study can be useful to public and private organizations, employees, policy makers, teachers, students, and governments in designing tailor-made entrepreneurship programs and to identify the individuals, who could benefit from entrepreneurship education. Originality/value The studies examining the role personality traits play in entrepreneurship education effectiveness, regarding entrepreneurial intention, are scant. This research is making an attempt to add to the knowledge gap existing to date on this issue.

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