FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENTS’ INTENTION TO PURSUE ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES: THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED BEHAVIOURAL CONTROL

Abstract

Despite many studies on students’ entrepreneurial intentions, the level of graduate
unemployment is still currently high, with the intensity of entrepreneurial intentions being
low. This study was set to examine the moderating role of perceived behavioural control
(PBC) on the relationship between attitude towards entrepreneurship (ATE), subjective
norms (SN) and entrepreneurial intention (EI). Cross-sectional research designed was used
to gather data from the research respondents using census sampling procedure. 527 useful
responses were used to analyse the data using partial least square structural equation
modeling PLS-SEM (World, 1982) with the aid of SmartPLS 4. The results revealed that PBC
construct (i.e perceived autonomy and perceived capacity) significantly moderates the
relationship between ATE and SN. Since, this study is one of the few to conceptualize
perceived behavioural control as a reflection of people’s capacity and autonomy over
decision to perform a behaviour, the result of the study revealed that PBC interacts with
attitudes and subjective norm to improve entrepreneurial intention. In other words, ATE and
SN lead to the intention to perform behaviors, when entrepreneurs believe in their ability to
perform entrepreneurship act. Based on the findings, it is suggested that entrepreneurship-
promoting education initiatives can focus on improving PBC rather than building new
businesses, which in turn enhances the positive impact of attitudes and subjective norms on
entrepreneurial intentions.