Psychometric refinement and validation of the Entrepreneurial Personality Inventory across distinct occupational...

Entrepreneurial personality is associated with entrepreneurial intention and business-related behavior, yet existing measures remain fragmented and insufficiently validated across occupational groups. The present study aimed to psychometrically refine and validate the Entrepreneurial Personality Inventory (EPI) across distinct occupational groups.

The study included 897 Romanian participants distributed across four groups: students enrolled in entrepreneurial education programs, matched students, entrepreneurs, and employees. The initial inventory included 113 items assessing seven dimensions of entrepreneurial personality. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the factorial structure of the instrument, while preliminary evidence of convergent validity and measurement invariance across groups were also examined.

Exploratory factor analysis supported a six-factor solution after the removal of problematic items and an unstable conformity factor. The final dimensions were motivation, persistence, entrepreneurial abilities, social skills, independence, and risk propensity. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated moderate fit indices for the revised model and satisfactory internal consistency coefficients. Entrepreneurial personality dimensions were positively associated with proactive personality and internal locus of control. Significant group differences were observed; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because only configural measurement invariance was supported across occupational groups.

The findings provide preliminary psychometric support for a revised six-factor structure of the Entrepreneurial Personality Inventory and support its use for research purposes. Differences between groups suggest potential distinctions between entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial practice, emphasizing the importance of validating entrepreneurial personality measures across diverse populations.