An exploration of changing student entrepreneurial motivators – a longitudinal analysis
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research
ISSN: 1355-2554
Article publication date: 20 December 2021
Issue publication date: 20 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Entrepreneurial motivations are considered key determinants of the direction, intensity and duration of entrepreneurial processes and outcomes. To measure attitudes and outcome expectations related to an entrepreneurial career, researchers often use a set of predetermined behavioral beliefs or motivators. However, motivators can be numerous, context-specific and there is a lack of evidence regarding their stability over time. This study addresses this gap, while also providing a rich description of how Portuguese college students perceive entrepreneurship and how these perceptions relate to levels of entrepreneurial intentions (EI).
Design/methodology/approach
Using qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze data over a 5-year period, this study seeks to confirm existing evidence on entrepreneurship motivators' diversity and heterogeneity and to explore differences in motivators' temporal stability. Using an initial sample of 851 Portuguese college students and 3 different survey waves, this study first aggregates the most frequently cited motivators for EI to compile a series of meaningful motivational factors. Subsequently, it extensively analyzes the robustness of these factors by examining their validity against EI and stability over time.
Findings
Based on their superior association with EI and greater temporal stability, the findings suggest that entrepreneurship-intrinsic motivational factors are more relevant for college students' EI models. Prominently, being motivated to create one's own new business due to a particular occupational interest is the most consistently stable individual motivation.
Practical implications
The results may interest those studying entrepreneurial motivations and EI longitudinally and who invest in promoting entrepreneurial behavior of college students.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to analyze entrepreneurship motivators/reasons' temporal stability, which is relevant for assessing their value for longitudinal entrepreneurship research and education. It is also the most complete assessment of Portuguese college students' perceptions of entrepreneurship.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Innovation and Governance for Sustainable Growth (ACIEK)”, guest edited by Alba Yela Aránega and Rafael Castaño Sánchez.
The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support received from FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal) national funding, provided through research grant UIDB/04521/2020 and doctoral grant ref: SFRH/BD/73520/2010.
Citation
Figueiredo Belchior, R. and Lyons, R. (2022), "An exploration of changing student entrepreneurial motivators – a longitudinal analysis", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 151-181. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-05-2021-0417
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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