A Comparison of Four Scales Predicting Entrepreneurship

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Over past 30 years a variety of scales and instruments have been used in study of entrepreneurship. Some scales were intended primarily as predictors (Sexton & Bowman, 1984, 1986), others were intended to provide understanding (Boyd & Gumpert, 1984; Singh, 1989; Welsh & White, 1981). Some scales were entrepreneurship specific (Dandridge & Ford, 1987; Hornaday & Vesper, 1982; Scherer, Brodzinski, & Wiebe, 1990), others were broad measures of general characteristics (Begley & Boyd, 1987; Fagenson & Marcus, 1991; Hornaday & Aboud, 1971; Sexton & Bowman, 1983). Virtually all of these studies used only one scale (Sexton & Bowman, 1985 is a notable exception to this). This raises research question of whether prediction and understanding of entrepreneurship might be enhanced by using several different types of scales in a multi-scale study. Such a comparison would allow entrepreneurship researchers to see which of scales best discriminates between an entrepreneurial group and other groups. To extent that scales are different from each other, such a comparison could guide researchers in selecting scale(s) most appropriate to their specific research question. Four scales are used in this study. The Entrepreneurial Quotient[c] (EQ) and Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation[c] (EAO) were designed and validated to discriminate between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator[c] (MBTI[TM]) and Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument[c] (HBDI[TM]) were designed and validated as general indicators of a person's preferred ways of thinking and behaving. The EQ was selected because it was short, had face validity, and was specifically developed to measure entrepreneurship. The EAO was selected because it was specifically developed through rigorous scale development procedures to measure entrepreneurship based on attitude rather than personality theory. The MBTI was selected because it is so widely used across a diverse range of research situations. It has been estimated that over 1.7 million people a year in United States take MBTI and that the MBTI is most popular 'self-insight, insight into others' instrument in use today (Druckman & Bjork, 1991, p.96). While MBTI has been used to predict entrepreneurship (Hoy & Carland, 1983; Wortman, 1986), authors of scale made no specific statement regarding its prediction of entrepreneurship. An instrument in area of dominance was selected because of occasional mentions that entrepreneurship was a right brain activity (Kao, 1991, p. 160; Timmons, 1985, p. 34; Williams, 1981). The HBDI is a commonly used measure of this type that is based on a dominance metaphor. The HBDI has been specifically proposed for entrepreneurship research (Winslow & Solomon, 1989), and Herrmann (1988) made specific statements regarding HBDI's prediction of entrepreneurs. In addition, several tests have been used in entrepreneurship research. Sexton and Bowman (1986) have done a series of studies using a modified version of Jackson Personality Inventory and Personality Research Form-E (JPI/PRF-E). Hornaday and Aboud (1971) and DeCarlo and Lyons (1979) used Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS). McClelland (1961) and Wainer and Rubin (1969) used Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). Based on reviews of research (Brockhaus, 1982; Brockhaus & Horwitz, 1986; Gartner, 1988), it was our expectation that approach to entrepreneurship would not discriminate between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs. Therefore, we did not include any standard trait scales such as EPPS or JPI/PRF-E. Instead, we included two entrepreneurship specific scales and two general scales. The EQ is a test of how one's self-perception and personal characteristics compare with those of successful entrepreneurs. …