Is the curiosity trait a key to entrepreneurial mindset ?

Abstract

While it is true that curiosity has recently been gaining significant visibility in the business world, however there is few information available about curiosity related to entrepreneurship. For this reason, this study proposed a model where curiosity is related to entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurial self-efficacy to entrepreneurial intention and in addition having as moderator entrepreneurial self-efficacy. To test and analyze this model, a descriptive design was made. A questionnaire was developed with scales used previously in other research studies. A total 116 students from HEC Management School - University of Liège were studied in this research. Proceeding after the collection of the data, an exploratory data analysis (EDA) was made in Rstudio in order to perceive outliers and missing data. Following, a measurement model analysis was performed through Confirmatory Factor analysis (CFA) to test, evaluate and determine the adequacy of the model fit in Rstudio. Finally, to test the hypothesis was used a linear regression analysis in SPSS 26. The study showed that curiosity is not highly related to entrepreneurial intention. In addition, it was found an interesting finding which student ranked moderate-high in their curiosity scale. However, their curiosity is not having a significant impact in their entrepreneurial intention. Additionally, the study examined that entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention are having an almost inexistent relationship. It can be caused because the students don’t believe in their capacity in performing entrepreneurial activities, and as results it impacts in their intentions in the creation of new venture business. Finally, it was found that the relationship between curiosity and entrepreneurial intention is not moderated by Entrepreneurial Self efficacy.