Title: The effect of social capital on rural women's entrepreneurial orientation

Authors: Heshmatollah Saadi; Ahmad Yaghoubi-Farani; Sara Jalilian; Reza Movahedi

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran ' Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran ' Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran ' Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

Abstract: This study has done with an aim of social capital impact on rural women's entrepreneurial orientations. A quantitative surveying methodology has been used in the study. The study's statistical population included 265 rural women entrepreneurs in Islamabad-Qarb County, of those 161 cases were selected based on Cochran's formula by a randomised sampling method. Data collection tool was a structured questionnaire which the validity of its questions was verified by a team of university professors and experts. Cronbach's alpha test also was used for calculating the reliability of the questionnaire and it was 0.70 (α = 0.70) for the entrepreneurial orientation section and 0.82 (α = 0.82) for social capital questions. This showed that research tool had a high capability to gather data. To test statistical hypotheses a SPSS software, structural equations modelling (SEM), and LISREL software were used. The results showed an excellent fit of selected indices (AGFI, GFI, NNFI, CFI and RMSEA) to measure both social capital and rural women's entrepreneurial orientations with observed variables. The results showed that social capital had a significant positive impact on rural women entrepreneurial orientations of Islamabad-Qarb County.

Keywords: social capital; rural communities; female entrepreneurs; women entrepreneurs; entrepreneurial orientation; Iran; rural women; entrepreneurship; structural equations modelling; SEM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2016.073989

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2016 Vol.27 No.2/3, pp.289 - 307

Received: 14 Apr 2015
Accepted: 30 May 2015
Published online: 31 Dec 2015 *

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