Character Strengths and Entrepreneurial Alertness–Model

Abstract

The Character Strengths and Entrepreneurial Alertness–Model (Pirhadi, Soleimanof, & Feyzbakhsh, 2023) was developed for a study that aimed to expand knowledge about the personal antecedents of entrepreneurial thinking by building upon the theory of character strengths. Specifically, the authors investigated how the character strengths of valor, industriousness, and critical thinking influence various dimensions of entrepreneurial alertness: scanning and search, association and connection, and evaluation and judgment. The items proposed for this model were adapted from previous research by Wright et al. (2017) and Tang et al. (2012). To ensure the validity of the Farsi translation, a two-step, reciprocal process of translation from English to Farsi and then back to English (Brislin, 1980) was adopted. Data were collected from a sample of students and entrepreneurs in Iran. The study reported results concerning factor structure, reliability, and validity.

Keywords

Character Strengths; Critical Thinking; Entrepreneurial Alertness; Industriousness; Valor; Students; Entrepreneurs

Authors

Homa Pirhadi; Sohrab Soleimanof; Alireza Feyzbakhsh

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Purpose

The primary purpose of this measurement model is to assess the relationships between character strengths and entrepreneurial alertness among students and entrepreneurs.

Validity

Convergent and Discriminant Validity: Factor loadings for all items were significant and exceeded 0.6, demonstrating satisfactory convergent validity for the constructs. The Average Variance Extracted (AVEs) for all constructs were above 0.4 and higher than the common variance of that construct with all other constructs, which indicates appropriate discriminant validity of the constructs in both models (Fornell & Larcker, 1981).

Reliability

Internal Consistency: Cronbach’s alpha and Composite Reliability (CR) values for the scale ranged from 0.74-0.87 and 0.65-0.89, respectively.

Factor Analysis

Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA): The CFA results for the student sample indicated an acceptable fit between the measurement models and the data (Hooper et al., 2008), with a chi-square/degree of freedom ratio of 1.97, a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of 0.96, a Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) of 0.95, a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of 0.04, and a Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) of 0.04. Similarly, for the entrepreneur sample, the CFA results showed an acceptable fit with a chi-square/degree of freedom ratio of 1.27, a CFI of 0.97, a TLI of 0.97, an RMSEA of 0.04, and an SRMR of 0.04.

Common Method Bias (CMV): Harman’s single-factor method was employed as a CMV test. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) results for the student sample revealed that only 34% (or <50%) of the variance was explained by a single factor, indicating no significant CMV concern. Repeating the test for the entrepreneur sample yielded similar results.

Instrument: Character Strengths and Entrepreneurial Alertness–Model

Test Type: Original
Format: Items are rated using a 7-point Likert scale.
Language Available: English, Persian (Farsi)
Population Group: Human (Male and Female)
Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older), including Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs), Thirties (30-39 yrs), and Middle Age (40-64 yrs).
Population Details: Respondents are students and entrepreneurs located in Iran.
Test Methodology: Test Validity, Convergent Validity, Discriminant Validity, Test Reliability, Internal Consistency, Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Measurement Model, Structural Equation Modeling.
Number of items: The student and entrepreneur models of this measure each include 18 items.
Constructs: Valor; Industriousness; Critical thinking; Scanning and search; Association and connection; Evaluation and judgment.

Keywords

Character Strengths; Entrepreneurial Alertness

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: No data is Available

Affiliation Email addresses:

• Homa Pirhadi: Sharif University of Technology Management, No data is Available

• Sohrab Soleimanof: Louisiana State University Entrepreneurship, [email protected]

• Alireza Feyzbakhsh: Sharif University of Technology Management, No data is Available

Correspondence Address:
Sohrab Soleimanof: Louisiana State University, E. J. Ourso College of Business, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems, 3035 Business Education Complex, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, 70803, [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: Contact Publisher
Fee: No
Test Year: 2023

References

Pirhadi, H., Soleimanof, S., & Feyzbakhsh, A. (2023). Unpacking entrepreneurial alertness: How character matters for entrepreneurial thinking. Journal of Small Business Management, 61(1), 155–186. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2021.1907584

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Items of the Character Strengths and Entrepreneurial Alertness–Model

Test items are available, with their location cited as: 2023-44953-007, Table 3, Page 169; 2023-44953-007, Table 4, Page 169.

Character Strengths and Entrepreneurial Alertness–Model

Student Version

• Valor

  • When necessary, I act even when others hesitate.

  • Those who know me consider me a courageous person.

  • Even when others conform, I maintain my beliefs.

• Industriousness

  • I work very hard for what I want.

  • I always finish what I start in a competent manner.

  • When I set a goal, I work until I achieve it.

• Critical thinking

  • I always identify in advance all of the possible consequences of my actions.

  • I always consider all available evidence before coming to conclusion.

  • I always think before I act.

• Scanning and search

  • I browse the Internet every day.

  • I am an avid information seeker.

  • I am always actively looking for new information.

• Association and connection

  • I see links between seemingly unrelated pieces of information.

  • I am good at “connecting dots.”

  • I often see connections between previously unconnected domains of information.

• Evaluation and judgment

  • I have a gut feeling for potential opportunity.

  • I can distinguish between profitable opportunities and not-so-profitable opportunities.

  • I have a knack for telling high-value opportunities apart from low-value opportunities.

Entrepreneur Version

• Valor

  • Even when others conform, I maintain my beliefs.

  • I act courageously even in the face of strong opposition.

  • Even when others conform, I will express my beliefs.

• Industriousness

  • When I set a goal, I work until I achieve it.

  • I always complete my task no matter what.

  • I am very resourceful.

• Critical thinking

  • I always objectively examine all sides of an issue.

  • I always assess the accuracy of my information.

  • I always think before I act.

• Scanning and search

  • I browse the Internet every day.

  • I am an avid information seeker.

  • I am always actively looking for new information.

• Association and connection

  • I see links between seemingly unrelated pieces of information.

  • I am good at “connecting dots.”

  • I often see connections between previously unconnected domains of information.

• Evaluation and judgment

  • I can distinguish between profitable opportunities and not-so-profitable opportunities.

  • I have a knack for telling high-value opportunities apart from low-value opportunities.

  • When facing multiple opportunities, I am able to select the good ones.

Note. Items are rated using a 7-point Likert scale.