Antecedents to entrepreneurial intentions : testing for measurement invariance for cultural values, attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs across ethnic groups

Abstract

Building on previous research on antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions, various measures were tested across different ethnic groups in South Africa. Factorial homogeneity is an important attribute for any scale intended for use in multicultural research, and since tests of equivalency are not routinely applied, this article hypothesised measurement invariance across ethnic groups. Theoretical discussions on Hofstede's (2001) value survey module (VSM 94), attitudes towards and beliefs about entrepreneurial intentions, general self-efficacy (GSE), and entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) preceded the use of statistical analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis based on 210 respondents indicated that equivalence for the underlying factors across the different ethnic groups could not be established, and that the three groups demonstrated different underlying structures. In conclusion, stereotypic declarations of an integrated South African culture were not supported by this research in terms of entrepreneurial intentions and their antecedents.