Student Attitude toward Entrepreneurship as Affected by Participation in an SBI Program

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine college students' entrepreneurial characteristics and attitude change toward entrepreneurship after participation in a Small Business Institute (SBI) program. The sample consisted of 220 college students enrolled in an SBI program during the fall semester 1992, in Region 8. Student participants completed the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation (EAO) instrument at the beginning and end of the SBI program. The EAO assessed student participants' attitudes toward becoming entrepreneurs on four sub-scales: need to achieve, innovation, locus of control, and self-esteem. Results show that participants with a high locus of control, as well as younger students, were most likely to develop more positive attitudes to entrepreneurship.