Role of Demographic Variables in the Formation of Entrepreneurial Intention

Entrepreneurship is gaining prominence in schools and colleges across the world. Almost all management post graduate degree program in our country teach the subject through lecture, experiential or a combination of both the methods. The purpose is to make the student aware about the subject and may be to make their entrepreneurial intention stronger. It has been found that individual’s intention influences subsequent behavior. Therefore it is pertinent to study factors that influence the formation of intention. This study specifically delves upon the demographic factors that impact the formation of entrepreneurial intention in management students. This study is drawn upon the widely used intentional paradigm i.e the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991). The theory of planned behavior suggests three conceptually independent antecedents of entrepreneurial intention. Less studied are the demographic variables that also impact intention formation process. Through the model seven demographic variables (gender, age, prior employment experience, parental occupation, parental education, income bracket and family business background) are studied. This study has utilized a quantitative approach. Data has been collected from 532 management students and SPSS has been used to analyze data. The results of this study can be utilized in designing course content for various management/ entrepreneurship courses with the objective of enhancing intention for entrepreneurial activities of a student.