Title: Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions: the influence of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and attitudes

Authors: Edgar Izquierdo, Marc Buelens

Addresses: ESPAE – Graduate School of Management, Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral, Malecon 100, Guayaquil, Ecuador. ' Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, Ghent University, Reep 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Abstract: The present study tested two models explaining how entrepreneurship education can have an effect of entrepreneurial intentions through its impact on attitudes and self-efficacy. Data were collected from 236 students who were exposed to an entrepreneurship course. While in Model 1, attitudes and self-efficacy are positively related to intentions to new venture creation, in Model 2, attitudes mediate between self-efficacy and intentions. Results indicate that attitudes have a stronger relationship with intentions in Model 2. Discussion and implications for future research are presented.

Keywords: entrepreneurship education; entrepreneurial self-efficacy; entrepreneurial attitudes; entrepreneurial intentions; entrepreneurs; new venture creation; new ventures; modelling; university students.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2011.040417

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2011 Vol.13 No.1, pp.75 - 91

Published online: 11 Oct 2014 *

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