The Structural Equation Model of Nascent Entrepreneurial Behavior among Undergraduate Students in Thailand

Article Details

Teerapong Teangsompong, teerapong.tea@mahidol.ac.th, Mahidol University, Thailand
Chaloempon Sritong, , Mahidol University, Thailand

Journal: The Asia-Pacific Social Science Review
Volume 21 Issue 1 (Published: 2021-03-01)

Abstract

Previous studies have investigated entrepreneurial behavior but failed to pinpoint nascent entrepreneurial behavior (NEB) and its underlying causal factors. Potential universities are required to cooperate with government agencies to promote and support students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to access the resources necessary for innovation-driven enterprises. As entrepreneurial universities, Thai universities will act as the new engine for national growth. This research aimed to develop, validate, and evaluate the invariance of the structural equation model (SEM) of NEB among Thai undergraduate students. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey with a Cronbach’s alpha between 0.723 and 0.903, which was applied to a sample of 1,272 students. Later, data were analyzed using LISREL software. The results showed that the constructed SEM was congruent with the empirical data at a very high level. Fifty-three percent of the variance of NEB was explained by causal factors. Attitude (ATT) was shown to have a direct effect on NEB at the highest level, followed by social norm (SN), and entrepreneurial intention (EI), respectively. This result suggested that actual EI depends not only on the policies launched by government sectors and universities, but also the awareness level of students towards such policies. Therefore, entrepreneurship behavior should be promoted continually for emphasis on NEB.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Incubating start-ups, Theory of Planned Behavior

DOI: https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/research/publishing-house/journals/apssr/volume-21-number-1/#1626922513619-e6d7c016-96fb
  References:

Adam, A. F., & Fayolle, A. (2015). Bridging the entrepreneurial intention-behavior gap: The role of commitment and implementation intention. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 25(1), 36–54. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB .2015.068775

Ajzen, I. (2002). Perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, locus of control, and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 20(1), 1–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb00236.x

Arroyo, M. R., Fuentes, M. M. F., & Jimenez, J. M. R. (2014). Análisis del emprendedor potencial: Integración de factores socio demográficos, cognitivos y relacionales [English translation]. Gestión Joven Revista de la Agrupación Joven Iberoamericana de Contabilidady Administración de Empresas (AJOICA) 12, 37–51.

Bell, H., & Bell, R. (2018). Applying enterprise: Active learning environments for business higher national diploma students. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 42(5), 649–661. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2017.1302567

Choosin, C. (2018). Entrepreneurial potential of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Business Administration, one university towards entering the ASEAN Economic Community. Payap University Journal, 26(1), 233–254. https://doi.org/10.14456 /pyuj.2016.11

David, J., & Lawal, M. C. (2018). Religiosity and entrepreneurial intentions in Nigeria. Esensi: Jurnal Bisnis dan Manajemen, 9(2), 211–222. https://doi.org/10.15408/ ess.v8i2.7331

Ertz, M., Karakas, F., & Sarigöllü, E. (2016). Exploring pro-environmental behaviors of consumers: An analysis of contextual factors, attitude, and behaviors. Journal of Business Research, 69(10), 3971–3980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.06.010

Farrell, A. M., & Rudd, J. M. (2009). Factor analysis and discriminant validity: A brief review of some practical issues. In T. Dewi (Ed.), Proceedings of Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference (pp.1–9). OAI. Retrieved from https://www.res earchgate.net/publication/40500590_Factor_analysis_and_discriminant_validity_A_brief_review_of_some_practical_issues

Fayolle, A., Gailly, B., & Lassas-Clerc, N. (2006). Assessing the impact of entrepreneurship education programs: A new methodology. Journal of European Industrial Training, 30(9), 701–720. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090590610715022

García, J. C., Sánchez, B., Flórez, J., Saraiva, H., & Gabriel, V. (2017) Entrepreneurial potential, realism and optimism as predictor variables of entrepreneurial intention: Differences between Spain and Portugal. Journal of Business Universidad del Pacifico, 9(1), 67–82. https://doi.org/10.21678/jb.2017.824

Gelderen, M., Brand, M., Praag, M., Bodewes, W., Poutsma, E., & van Gils, A. (2008). Explaining entrepreneurial intentions by means of the theory of planned behavior. Career Development International, 13(6), 538–559. https://doi.org/10.1108/136204 30810901688

George, D., & Mallery, M. (2010). SPSS for Windows step by step: A simple guide and reference, 17.0 update (10th ed.). Pearson.

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., & Babin, B. J. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Prentice Hall.

Katundu, M. A., & Gabagambi, D. M. (2016). Barriers to business start-up among Tanzanian university graduates: Evidence from the University of Dar-es-Salaam. Global Business Review, 17(1), 16–37. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972150915610667

Krueger, N. F., & Carsrud, A. L. (1993). Entrepreneurial intentions: Applying the theory of planned behavior. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 5(4), 315–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985629300000020

Krueger, N. F. (2017). Entrepreneurial intentions are dead: Long live entrepreneurial intentions, revisiting the entrepreneurial mind. Springer International Publishing.

Landstrom, H. (2005). Pioneers in entrepreneurship and small business research. Springer Science.

Lortie, J., & Castogiovanni, G. (2015). The theory of planned behavior in entrepreneurship research: What we know and future directions. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 11(4), 935–957. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-015-0358-3

Malhotra N. K., & Dash S. (2011). Marketing research: An applied orientation. Pearson.

Mbawuni, J., & Nimako, S. G. (2015). Modeling intention to pursue business careers: A PLS-SEM multi-group analysis of Ghanaian accounting and management post-graduates. Proceedings book of 2nd ICBSSS, Dubai, 45–59.

McStay, D. (2008). An investigation of undergraduate student self-employment intention and the impact of entrepreneurship education and previous entrepreneurial experience (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Bond University, The Australia. https://pure.bond.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/18371119/An_investigation_of_undergraduate_student_self_employment_intention_and_the_impact_of_entrepreneurship_education_and_previous_entrepreneurial_experience.pdf

Myers, D. (2014). The theory of planned behavior as a predictor of entrepreneurial intention in the South African Jewish community (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Pretoria, South Africa. https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/44459

National Innovation Agency. (2018, October 24). ลักษณะและแหล่งเงินทุนของวิสาหกิจเริ่มต้นในประเทศไทย Characteristics and Sources of Investment Fund of Startup Business in Thailand [Thailand towards startup nation]. https://www.startupthailand.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/white-paper.pdf

Office of the Education Council. (2018, September). สถิติการศึกษาของประเทศไทย ปีการศึกษา 2559-2560. http://online.fliphtml5.com/wbpvz/ymwe/#p=4

Office of the Permanent Secretary. (2016, June 9). การประชุมคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมวิสาหกิจเริ่มต้นแห่งชาติคร้ังที่ 2/2559. http://www1.mof.go.th/home /Press_release/News2016/076.pdf

Phelan, C., & Sharpley, R. (2012). Exploring entrepreneurial skills and competencies in farm tourism. Local Economy, 27(2), 103–118. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269094211429654

Ramli, K. I., Yusof, N. S., & Zulkifli, M. S. (2018, October 29-30). University students and entrepreneurial intention. Paper presented at the National Conferences on Governance and Development 2018: Innovations in Government for Sustainable Development, Sintok, Malaysia. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331476945_University_students_and_entrepreneurial_intention_2018

Smithikrai, C. (2005). Entrepreneurial potential of Thai university students. Songklanakarin Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 11(3), 255–274. http://kaekae.oas.psu.ac.th/ojs/psuhsej/viewarticle.php?id=306

Teangsompong T., & Sirisunhirun, S. (2018). Multilevel structural equation modeling for city development based on the expectations of the local population in a special border economic zone in Western Thailand. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 39(3), 534–541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjss.2017.08.002

Yotongyos M., & Sukmaungma, S. (2016). Factors affecting entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate students: A case study of Bangkok. Suthiparithat, 30(95), 103–115. https://so05.tcithaijo.org/index.php/DPUSuthiparithatJournal/article/view/244198/165892

Zanabazar, A., & Jigjiddorj, S. (2020). The factors affecting entrepreneurial intention of university students: Case of Mongolia. SHS Web of Conferences, 73, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20207301034

  Cited by:
     None...