David V. Stimpson

An Attitude Approach to the Prediction of Entrepreneurship

Attitude is presented as a better approach to the description of entrepreneurs than either personality characteristics or demographics. The development and validation of the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation (EAO) scale are explained. Sixty-three undergraduates were used in developing and establishing the test-retest reliability of the EAO. Fifty-four entrepreneurs and fifty-seven non-entrepreneurs served as known groups in establishing the discriminant validity of the EAO. There was a significant difference between known groups for all four of the EAO subscales (achievement, personal control, innovation, self-esteem); all subscales but achievement entered into a stepwise discriminant function.

Some correlates of trust.

Trust has been variously defined by behavioral scientists and not very thoroughly investigated. In this study trust was defined as an expectancy held by an individual that the behavior of another person or a group would be altruistic and personally beneficial. An attempt was made, using this conceptual definition, to identify some personality and behavioral correlates of trust. Seven interpersonal relations groups with approximately 10 male and female undergraduates per group were studied with use of the Janis and Field self-esteem inventory, Schutzs FIRO-B scale, and the Rotter internal-external scale. It was discovered that a trusted person is one who is highly influential, has an internal locus of control, a low need to control others, high self-esteem, and is open to being influenced by others.

Cross-Cultural Gender Differences in Preference for a Caring Morality.

Abstract Several theorists have proposed that women prefer a more caring morality, one that is based on a high level of concern for interpersonal relationships and emotional sensitivity to the feelings of others. This study is an investigation of the prediction that (a) there are gender differences in a preference for a caring morality and (b) the differences exist across cultures. A scale was developed to empirically test these predictions. It was adapted from Interpersonal sensitivity scale that was derived from a factor analysis of the Bem Sex Role Inventory. The predictions were confirmed, with women in Korea, China, Thailand, and the United States preferring a more caring morality.

The caring morality and gender differences

Subjects were asked to rate 18 adjectives on a five-point scale of goodness. The items were adjectives extracted from the Bern inventory which loaded on a factor called ‘interpersonal sensitivity’ or ‘caring.’ Women (college students, ages 18 to 22 years) rated these adjectives significantly higher than male peers. Women do not consistently rate other items from the Bern inventory higher on the dimension of goodness. The results are interpreted as supporting Gilligans and Noddings theory that there is a difference in mens and womens construction of a world view.

Comparison of attitude changes elicited by live and videotape classroom presentations

As interest in the factors contributing to similarities and differences in the effectiveness of live and video classroom presentations increases, the need for general explanatory concepts becomes more critical. One approach which may contribute to a more general understanding is the investigation of perceptual processes involved in information processing. Forgus (~966) defines perception as an information extraction process. Information is gained from various cues in the given situation. If more cues are available more information can be gained. Information is broadly defined here as being more than just an array of verbalizable facts. Such information would include undefined impressions, attitudes, etc. In two similar settings then, if more cues are available in one, it should provide a richer amount of information. For example, if exactly the same verbal presentation is made in two situations with varying amounts of cues available, the one with the greater number of cues should yield a greater information acquirement on the

Attitudinal characterisitics of entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs in the United States, Korea, Thailand, and the People's Republic of China

The Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation scale (EAO) was used to assess the attitude constellations of innovation, achievement, self-esteem, and personal control of both entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs in the United States, Korea, Thailand, and the Peoples Republic of China. Analyses of the data reveal a significant difference between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs in the United States but not in other countries. There are also significant differences among entrepreneurs from country to country. The non-portability of these attitude constellations to Asian countries is identified.

Mediating Effects of Material Payment, Social Reinforcement, and Familiarity on Foot-in-the-Door Phenomena in Thailand

Abstract Material payment, social reinforcement, and familiarity were examined as possible mediating variables in the foot-in-the-door technique in the Thai society. Female college students in Thailand were randomly assigned to one of the eight possible combinations of the above three variables (e.g., material payment-social reinforcement-familiarity; no material payment-social reinforcement-familiarity; material payment-no social reinforcement-familiarity). At first contact, subjects were asked to respond to a 10-item checklist regarding environmental concerns. Four days later the same subjects were asked to travel a few miles from the college to plant trees as part of an environmental enhancement project. Verbal compliance (agreeing to go) and behavioral compliance (showing up at the appointed time and place for transportation to the planting site) were assessed and analyzed according to the experimental condition to which each subject was assigned. Social reinforcement significantly affected both verba...

Effects of a Survival Training Experience Upon Evaluation of Self and Others for Underachieving High School Students.

Underachieving male high school students were involved in a 3-wk. survival training experience designed to raise (a) self-esteem, (b) evaluation of parents, and (c) evaluation of friends. A semantic differential administered in a pre- and posttest design indicated a significant increase in self-esteem and evaluation of parents.

RELATION OF PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND COLOR PREFERENCES

150 students responded to the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and ranked color plates from the Luscher Color Test. Regression analysis yielded no relationships of predictive significance between the two sets of variables. An ancillary analysis using sets of random numbers in place of the color preference data yielded results basically similar to those produced in the earlier analysis. Males and females rank ordered the colors identically except for yellow, which was significantly more preferred by males than females.

Management Style: Modeling or Balancing?

Summary An examination of the style of managers (N = 135) in a simulated work environment shows that they tended to model the style of their boss. Females evidenced this tendency to a greater degree than males. Furthermore, when the boss was a female, male subordinate managers became somewhat more participative than the boss, while female subordinate managers became more authoritarian. A compensatory or balancing hypothesis is proposed as a possible explanation for this sex difference. These results should not be generalized beyond an American population. Possible cultural differences were not explored.