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Name(s) and Student Number(s): Pham Linh Chi Vu - N1220354

BUSI49106: Research Methods for Managers

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202324 Flex Prog 1

Title of Coursework: Research Proposal

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NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

BUSI49106 Research Methods for Managers

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

INVESTIGATING FACTORS INFLUENCING

ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS OF POSTGRADUATES
MAJORING IN MSc MANAGEMENT IN THE UK

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................... 5
Research rationale................................................................................................ 5
Research objectives.............................................................................................. 6
Literature review.................................................................................................... 7
Research Methodology............................................................................................ 9
Research methods................................................................................................ 10
Ethics.................................................................................................................... 11
Research Plan....................................................................................................... 12
References............................................................................................................ 12
Appendices........................................................................................................... 17

INTRODUCTION

Research rationale

According to recent research conducted by Enterprise Nation, the proportion of individuals

considering initiating a business in 2024 has surged to 35%, marking a 5% rise compared
to the figures recorded in 2023. Nowadays, big corporations are a traditional dream working
environment for students, especially for Management postgraduates. However, this trend
seems to be changing with the noticeable rise in the number of students eager to get
involved or pursue entrepreneurship. Consequently, it is imperative to have a deeper
understanding about the importance of entrepreneurship, which profoundly affects not only
graduates but also various aspects of life.

Entrepreneurship is globally acknowledged as a crucial driver for the development of the

economy (Taylor & Plummer, 2003). In the world, there is a prevailing belief that
entrepreneurship can solve economic downturn (Matlay, 2001). Entrepreneurship helps
enhance the national economy and improve economic efficiency by generating employment
opportunities and sustaining employment levels (Al Ajlouni, 2021; Cui and Bell, 2022). Also,
entrepreneurship has the potential to mitigate economic disparity in the long term (Rustiana
et al., 2021).

Due to the undeniable importance of entrepreneurship and the rising trend in

entrepreneurial activities, understanding factors influencing the entrepreneurial intentions of
Management postgraduates is urgent as acknowledging the determining factors driving a

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person to pursue entrepreneurship will expedite company growth, aid in research, and
inform practical applications (Anjum et al., 2022). Also, getting more insights about what
drives MSc Management students towards entrepreneurship stands a chance for
organisations such as GoGetters Worldwide to support students in their entrepreneurial
activities. Moreover, understanding the influential role of factors leading to entrepreneurial
intentions of Management postgraduates along with the importance of the impact of each
factors on their entrepreneurial intentions can provide GoGetters Worldwide, all individuals
related in this field with a new knowledge about entrepreneurial intentions in a more specific
context, which is the Msc Management population in the UK.

As a result, the research proposal involves the research question “What are factors
influencing entrepreneurial intentions of Postgraduates Majoring In Msc Management in the
UK?”. As a result, the research “Investigating Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial
Intentions Of Postgraduates Majoring In Msc Management in the UK” is aimed to
identify the factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions of Management postgraduates in
the UK.

Research objectives

1. To investigate factors affecting entrepreneurial intentions of master students

majoring in MSc Management

2. To clarify Management postgraduates’ perceptions towards entrepreneurship and

examine the influence of postgraduate Management studies on their perceptions
about entrepreneurship

3. To examine the existence of entrepreneurial activities among MSc Management

students and the current trend in entrepreneurship

4. To analyse how Master's in Management students' entrepreneurial perceptions and

intentions align with or differ from existing research on student entrepreneurship

5. To provide GoGetters Worldwide with insights to better understand and support

potential entrepreneurial efforts among their Master's in Management student
population in the UK

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Literature review

Entrepreneurship is not easy to define (Shane and Venkataraman, 2000). Mars (2016)
concluded that the concept of entrepreneurship remains unclear and has yet been fully
defined. John Freeman, an early researcher in the field of entrepreneurship, regarded
entrepreneurship as the study of newly established businesses (Engel & Teece, 2012).
Entrepreneurship is defined as the act of starting a business that represents freedom,
creativity, inspiration, and a willingness to take risks typically deliberately and intentional
(Gaglio, 2018)

There are various definitions in terms of entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurial

intentions can be regarded as the increasing awareness along with deliberate mindset of
people who aspire to initiate a new venture or generate brand new value within an
organisation. It is evident that individuals engage in entrepreneurial activities with
intentionality, and the choice to become an entrepreneur is a result of conscious
decision-making processes (Krueger et al., 2000). Also, Bae et al. (2014) define
entrepreneurial intentions as the inclination or readiness to possess or engage in a business
endeavour.

Numerous researchers have undertaken extensive studies in the past decades to find out
determinants that contribute to entrepreneurial intentions, leading a substantial body of
literature. Henderson and Robertson (2000) reached the conclusion that while qualities such
as imagination, perseverance, and thinking innovatively are crucial in the formation of an
entrepreneur, the process also heavily relies on practical learning experiences. Turker and
Selcuk (2009), along with Neck And Greene (2011) clarified that entrepreneurship education
and university education pose a significant role in forming student’s entrepreneurial
intentions. Also, students' aspirations to become an entrepreneur are from parental
influence, peers interactions and guidance from trusted individuals (Gelderen et al.,2008;
Marlay, 2005)

Furthermore, Majumdar and Varadarajan (2013) undertook research to explore the gender -
related impacts on students' entrepreneurial intentions, revealing that sexuality does not
significantly influence entrepreneurial intentions. However awareness emerged as one of the
crucial factors shaping students' attitudes towards entrepreneurship. In contrast, another
study conducted across more than ten countries found that gender profoundly results in
shaping students' attitudes towards entrepreneurship (Abualbasal, 2018).

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What is more, Sesen (2013) discovered that there is no significant relationship between
students' need for achievement, access to business ideas, and a supportive university
environment with entrepreneurial intentions. However, financial security was identified as a
crucial factor influencing students' entrepreneurial intentions as students are found to feel
discouraged from pursuing entrepreneurship due to concerns about financial insecurity (
Gelderen et al., 2008)

The examination of the key factor influencing entrepreneurial intentions has yielded diverse
findings, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions solely from existing literature.
However, there are notable research gaps in the existing studies. Firstly, determining the
most influential factor has proven challenging due to inconsistent outcomes in previous
research. Secondly, there is a scarcity of studies investigating entrepreneurial intentions
specifically within the MSc Management population in the UK. Hence, this study is aimed to
narrow down these literature gaps

In this research, the author applies the model proposed by Khuong and An (2016),
including 4 main determinants influencing entrepreneurial intentions of the students of
Vietnam National University. These 4 factors are Prior entrepreneurial experience, External
environment, Perceived feasibility, and Personal traits (Khuong and An, 2016). The
theoretical framework is proposed in the following diagram, including two types of variables.
The independent variables are factors influencing the entrepreneurial intentions of Msc
Management postgraduates in the UK including Prior entrepreneurial experience, External
environment, Perceived feasibility, and Personal traits. Meanwhile, the dependent variable is
the Entrepreneurial intentions of Management postgraduates. This model is to offer a
comprehensive framework that facilitates a profound insight about the relationship between
four influential factors and the entrepreneurial intentions Management postgraduates in the
UK. The conceptual model is visually depicted in the diagram provided below:

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Figure 1. Theoretical framework

Source: Khuong and An (2016)

Research Methodology

Every research undertaking is built upon fundamental assumptions regarding what

constitutes "valid" and "good" research, as well as the appropriate research methods to
employ. These underlying assumptions are rooted in the philosophical framework that
guides the research process (Leimeister, 2010). Epistemology specifically deals with the
beliefs and principles regarding knowledge and the means by which it is obtained
(Hirschheim, 1992).

Positivism, which originates from the scientific epistemology of logical positivism, is one
such philosophical perspective. Positivism holds the fundamental perspective that the world
possesses an objective reality, which can be apprehended through quantifiable attributes.
These attributes are considered to be separate from the observer and their instruments
(Leimeister, 2010).

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The research ontology of this research is objectivist with the positivistic epistemological
assumptions. Consequently, the quantitative research strategy is applied in this study, which
requires a deductive approach. As stated by Creswell (2014), the deductive approach
utilized in hypothesis testing is beneficial for elucidating and investigating the connections
between a theoretical framework and research outcomes. As a result, the deductive
approach aligns with the objectives and purpose of this research to examine the factors
contributing to entrepreneurial intentions of MSc Management students. Following the
deductive approach, a theoretical framework is proposed, research hypotheses are
formulated, and then data collection and analysis are conducted to derive empirical findings
regarding the factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions of MSc Management students in
the UK.

Research methods

The research method, defined by Cohen et al. (2017), as the techniques, approaches
and processes employed to collect and analyse data, in order to generate empirical evidence
for research inquiries. This supports researchers to implement a systematic approach to
research methods which provides them with clear directions (Creswell, 2014; Cohen et al.,
2017). Creswell (2014) emphasises the importance of selecting an appropriate research
method before conducting a study, as it offers the necessary guidance and strategy to
address the research questions effectively. Research methods can be categorised between
quantitative and qualitative research methods (Myers, 1997).

Quantitative research methods have firmly established themselves in the social sciences and
encompass various approaches. The quantitative research methodology relies on numerical
data, where values and levels of theoretical constructs and concepts are represented using
numeric values. The interpretation of these numeric values is regarded as strong scientific
evidence of how a phenomenon functions. Quantitative research heavily utilises statistical
tools and software packages, such as SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences),
which are essential components in a researcher's toolkit (Boudreau, 2004). Quantitative
data can be derived from archival sources, structured interviews, or surveys.

On the contrary, qualitative research methods aim to assist researchers in comprehending

individuals and the social and cultural environment in which they reside. Sources of
qualitative data encompass various techniques, including observation and participant

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observation (fieldwork), interviews and narrative questionnaires, analysis of documents and
texts, as well as the researcher's personal impressions and reactions.

As this research ontology is objectivist with the positivistic epistemological assumptions,

the method strategy adopted for this research is quantitative. In this study, the variables
under investigation are examined at a specific point in time, offering convenience and
suitability for the researcher's objectives. To collect data, a survey questionnaire was
developed and administered using the Google Forms platform. The choice of Google Forms
was motivated by its time-saving nature and convenience, as questionnaires are known to
be effective in gathering data. Once data was collected from the participants, it was
encrypted and stored in Microsoft Excel for analysis. Convenience sampling technique was
employed, as it is commonly employed in entrepreneurship research, as noted by Krueger
et al. (2000).

Ethics

This research applies the quantitative research method with nonexperimental practices. As a
result, ethical considerations and proposed solutions are as follows:

Firstly, it is imperative for researchers to understand the basic principles for safeguarding
the participants, including ensuring anonymity and confidentiality. The primary purpose of
upholding confidentiality and anonymity guidelines in research is to protect study
participants from potential harm (Kang et al., 2023). Disclosing the identities of respondents
alongside individual characterizations can be detrimental to those individuals who possess
stigmatising traits or behaviours (Surmiak, 2018). For vulnerable populations such as
children, underprivileged individuals, or subordinates in the workplace, revealing their
identities could have adverse effects (Kang et al., 2023). Thus, there is an urgent need to
ensure confidentiality and anonymity principles during research processes. To obtain
confidentiality and anonymity in this research, the author will only report aggregate findings
rather than individual-level data to the public.

Secondly, research bias also requires consideration.Research bias arises when a "mistake" is
introduced into the design of the study, the collection of data, the analysis of data, and/or
the publication process (Cuschieri, 2022). Self-reported or recall biases are inevitable often
due to the short time frame. To address this issue, the author, in any cases, suspects or

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detects that one or more of these biases presented in the study, the author will
acknowledge them in the research as part of the study's limitations section.

Research Plan

The research process has a duration of 7 weeks and contains 2 stages including preliminary
research and formal study. The preliminary research period lasts for 3 weeks. In the next
stage, the author proceeds to the formal study phase, which lasts for 4 weeks.

Figure 2 depicts the research stages in the following diagram using the Gannt chart:

Figure 2: Research stages

Source: proposed by the author

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Appendices

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