Relationship among Influential Factors of Entrepreneurial Intention in Terms of Gender: Case of Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

Abstract

In the last two decades, entrepreneurship has become an important concept, not only in economy, but also in politics, education and research. Studies have shown that entrepreneurship is a promoter for economic development so that entrepreneurial intention is gaining more importance in developing countries like Malaysia. This study aims to find out the relationship among influential factors of entrepreneurial intention (previous experience, education, attitude, subjective norms, and behavioral control) in terms of gender. Data collection was conducted in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in June 2014. A total of 380 questionnaires were distributed among 187 male and 193 female postgraduate students. The results showed that there was no significant difference between females and males in previous experience, education, attitude, subjective norms, behavioral control and entrepreneurial intention. Therefore, there was no significant difference in entrepreneurial intention between males and females.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3p195