Personal values and entrepreneurial intention: an empirical study

Abstract

From a cognitive perspective, the study of the psychosocial characteristics of new entrepreneurs continues to attract more and more attention among researchers. Nevertheless, the identification of individual values and the effect they exert on the decision to become an entrepreneur is clearly an under-researched area of study. Social psychology has shown that values may cause behaviour by promoting positive attitudes and action-planning. This study examines the value-intention link in entrepreneurship on a sample of 1467 Spanish university students. Schwartz’s Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ) is used to measure values. Results confirm the positive effects of openness to change and self-enhancement values on the entrepreneurial intention