Title: One style does not fit all: the role of cognitive style in entrepreneurship education

Authors: Jill Kickul, Lisa K. Gundry, Saulo D. Barbosa, Shalei Simms

Addresses: Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Stern School of Business, New York University, 44 W 4th Street, Suite 7-97, New York, NY 10012, USA. ' DePaul University, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604, USA. ' EM Lyon Business School, France, 23, avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully Cedex, France. ' Rutgers Business School, Newark and New Brunswick, P.O. Box 10066, Rutgers, New Jersey, USA; The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ-3066, 180 University Avenue (201) 407-7741, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Abstract: This study presents an investigation of the role of cognitive style on the perceived entrepreneurial self-efficacy regarding specific stages in the new venture creation process. Two cognitive styles were measured (intuitive and analytic) and the results indicate that intuitive students| intentions towards entrepreneurship are better explained by their self-efficacy beliefs regarding the opportunity identification stage of the new venture creation process. Analytic students| intentions towards entrepreneurship rely more strongly on their self-efficacy beliefs concerning the planning, marshalling of resources and implementation stages of the new venture creation process. Recommendations are offered based on these findings to help entrepreneurship educators refine their pedagogy to increase the likelihood of effective creation of new business ventures.

Keywords: cognitive style; entrepreneurial self-efficacy; new venture creation; entrepreneurship education; opportunity identification; intuitive cognition; analytic cognition; new business ventures; small businesses.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2010.029504

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2010 Vol.9 No.1, pp.36 - 57

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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