Attitudes, Subjective Norms, and Perceived Control Versus Contextual Factors Influencing the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Students From Poland

Abstract

Purpose: The article analyses the influence of personal and contextual variables on entrepreneurial intentions of students from Poland. The article presents a structural model that has been developed from a set of student perceptions. Chosen variables included in the model allows explaining and managing the formation of the intention in the context of higher education. This study provides answers to the following questions: What role and which personal variables do play importance in the formation of entrepreneurship intention in the case of young people? Which and how contextual variables are important to enhance personal variables for entrepreneurial intentions? Methodology: The research was carried out by using critical literature analysis as well as statistical research. In carrying out this work, a causal quantitative methodology (structural equation modeling) was applied using the Amos program. Factor analysis has also been used in a descriptive methodological context. The empirical research was conducted in first quarter of 2020. Findings: Research conducted on a sample of over 330 Polish students has shown that not all personal factors are statistically significant in assessing the entrepreneurial intentions of young people. As the results show, subjective norms do not play a significant role in the intention to take up self-employment. External (contextual) factors related to the broadly understood environment supporting the future entrepreneur play an important role, but much less clear than the factors at the individual level and generally indirectly influence entrepreneurial intentions, strengthening the entrepreneur's personal factors. Practical Implications: The results suppose a theoretical and practical contribution to the promotion of entrepreneur intentions of university students inside and outside the educational context. Entrepreneurship promotion programmes run by universities must focus on developing the attitude of the potential entrepreneurs, conveying the message that, despite all the obstacles that exist when launching a business, the entrepreneurship route can be an interesting alternative. Originality/Value: In the study, the personal and contextual factors influencing the entrepreneurial intentions of students were taken into account. The causal model generated on a sample of 332 Polish respondents shows the importance of individual factors on entrepreneurial intentions and the impact of contextual constructs on personal factors. Contextual variables (i.e. education, public policy, supporting entrepreneurial environments) were found to have a positive impact on personal variables as well as entrepreneurial intentions.

Selected contextual factors and entrepreneurial intentions of students on the example of Poland

“…The explanation for this result (irrelevance of contextual factors for entrepreneurial intentions) may be the lack of entrepreneurial culture in the context of the region where the study was conducted. Podlaskie Voivodeship is a region in the eastern part of Poland that historically has not been characterised by having a high rate of entrepreneurial activity (Kobylińska, 2021).…”

Investigating the Effect of ePWOM on Trading among University Students in BURSAMKTPLC Simulation: A Conceptual Framework

“…Nonetheless, Existing research on the relationship between subjective norms and behavioral intention has produced contradictory findings. Others found subjective norms to be significant predictors of behavioral intention (Al-Otaibi & Houghton, 2015;Fernandez et al, 2022;Gopi & Ramayah, 2007;Hsiao & Tang, 2014;Huang et al, 2022), whereas some authors were unable to provide support for the relationship between subjective norms and behavioral intention (Kobylinska, 2022;Wijaya et al, 2022). Perceived behavioral control (PBC) refers to an individual's perceptions of the presence or absence of resources, capability, and a sense of control necessary for the successful performance of a given behavior.…”

Environmental, Personal Factors and Entrepreneurial Intentions of University Students from the Perspective of the Theory of Planned Behavior: Contributions to a Sustainable Vision of Entrepreneurship in the Business Area

“…According to the discussions and relations of the previous section, we sought to identify contextual and individual predictives of the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in the Brazilian context according to the model applied to Polish students by Kobylińska [9] (p. 97). In addition, to considering contextual variables to support entrepreneurship, such as education, public policies, business environment, individual factors (subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, personal attitudes) considered predictive of motivations to undertake were tested, as shown in Figure 2.…”

“…Knowing the contextual antecedents of the individual factors formed by the Theory of Planned Behavior [9] helps undergraduate courses, to develop pedagogical proposals and learning strategies that foster the sustainability of business activities and a culture of student sustainability [8][9][10]26].…”