Role Model Performance Effects on Development of Entrepreneurial Career Preference

Abstract

Critics of the trait approach to the study of entrepreneurship have called for adaptation of theory from other disciplines to explain entrepreneurial behavior. This study responds by focusing on the first step in the process by which entrepreneurial career preference is developed. Social Learning Theory was used to investigate the link between a parent role model and development of preference for an entrepreneurial career. Results indicated that presence of a parent entrepreneurial role model was associated with increased education and training aspirations, task self-efficacy, and expectancy for an entrepreneurial career. Two dimensions of entrepreneurial career preference, entrepreneurial preparedness and expectancy, were identified.