The relationship between psychological characteristics with entrepreneurial intention of agricultural student in the University of Tehran

Increasing rate of unemployment among the graduates of Iranian Higher Education system, particularly the graduates of agricultural colleges has been developed into one of the major socio- economic problems of the nation. The main purpose of this study, was investigating the relationship between psychological characteristics with entrepreneurial intention of agricultural students in university of Tehran. The statistical population of the study consisted of all agricultural fourth-year undergraduate students in University of Tehran (N=250), that 109 of them were selected as the research sample using the proportionate stratified sampling method. The main instrument of the study was a questionnaire which its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was established by calculating Cronbach Alpha Coefficient. Data were analyzed by SPSS and LISREL software in two parts of descriptive and inferential statistics.Result (s): Results of correlation analysis showed that there was positive and significant relationship between psychological characteristics (risk taking, internal locus of control, need to achievement, and ambiguity tolerance) and entrepreneurial intention of the students. Also, results of structural equation modeling indicated that psychological characteristics had a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial intention of the students (γ=0.79, t=5.26). Moreover, the results indicated that entrepreneurship education courses had positive and significant effects on psychological characteristics (risk taking, Locus of control, seeking success and ambiguity tolerance) and entrepreneurial intention of the students. The finding of this study can contribute to the improvement of entrepreneurial intention and behavior of agricultural students for planning higher education programs in agriculture.