An Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy Scale with a Neutral Wording

Abstract

In this book chapter I present a multidimensional entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) scale. The scale builds on three established ESE-scales, but the reliability of it is improved compared to the original three scales as the highly discipline-specific jargon is transformed to a more neutral wording of the items. The scale has been tested in a large scale survey including 445 students from twelve different programmes at three universities in Denmark and one university in Sweden. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) has been applied in order to investigate the multidimensionality of the items in the scale, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) has been applied to investigate its convergent, discriminatory and nomological validity. The results demonstrate support for a multidimensional ESE-scale with high predictive validity regarding entrepreneurial behaviours and with high reliability as the items are comprehensible to respondents, regardless if they have entrepreneurial experience or not. The scale can thus be used in programme evaluations that include control groups or other type of individuals that lack entrepreneurial experience.

Keywords: entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurship education, confirmatory factor analysis, opportunity

JEL Classification: A23, C83, I21, J24, L26