Identification and Validation of Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial Culture in Primary Schools
Keywords:
Influencing Factors, Primary Schools, Entrepreneurial CultureAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to identify and validate the factors influencing the entrepreneurial culture in primary schools.
Methodology: This applied research employed a mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 experts in entrepreneurship education and child learning, selected purposefully. Data were analyzed using theoretical coding, including open and axial coding, and test–retest reliability was confirmed at 87%. In the quantitative phase, the population included 44,268 principals and teachers in Tehran primary schools, from which 390 participants were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-made 68-item questionnaire whose Cronbach’s alpha values for all components exceeded 0.89. Statistical analyses included one-sample t-test, Friedman test, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using AMOS.
Findings: The one-sample t-test indicated that all four dimensions of entrepreneurial culture significantly exceeded the theoretical mean value of 50 (p < 0.01). The Friedman test showed that the socio-cultural dimension ranked first, followed by human resources, structural-supportive, and educational-pedagogical dimensions (χ² = 106.462, p = 0.000). SEM results demonstrated that the educational-pedagogical (β = 0.456), human resources (β = 0.753), and structural-supportive (β = 0.204) dimensions had significant direct effects on the socio-cultural dimension, collectively explaining 82% of its variance.
Conclusion: The findings highlight that developing an entrepreneurial culture in primary schools requires a multidimensional and systemic approach. The socio-cultural dimension serves as the core of this culture, while human resources and educational-pedagogical factors function as critical enablers. Coordinated enhancement across structural, pedagogical, and social domains is essential for effectively nurturing entrepreneurial values among young learners.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Saeideh Soroush (Author); Mohammad Naghi Imani; Alireza Ganji (Author)
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