THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NETWORK TIES TOWARDS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: THE CASE OF SRI LANKA

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to complement the existing body of knowledge on social entrepreneurial intention by testing the Theory of Planned Beavior and Social Network Theory in the Sri Lankan Context among state undergraduate students. The Theory of Planned behavior (TPB) and Social Network Theory was tested in the context of state undergraduate students in Sri Lanka. Exogenous variables included Personal Attitude, Subjective Norm, Perceived Behavioral control, and social networks were studied. The instrument used in the study was developed using validated items from past literature. Data for this quantitative study were collected from undergraduate students from nine state universities in Sri Lanka. Structural equation modeling was used to see the insights from the valid data using IBM’s SPSS 25 and AMOS 22. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis and subsequent evaluation of the structural model revealed a positive relationship exists between Social Entrepreneurial Intention and employment attitude, social entrepreneurial Intention and Perceived behavioral control and, Social Network Ties and perceived behavioral control . However, the results did not support the relationships between social entrepreneurial intention and subjective Norms. limited research has been carried out in the area of social entreprenurship in the Sri Lankan context. This research will shed light on the antecedent factors that affect social entrepreneurial intention and assist policymakers in developing appropriate strategies for promoting Social entrepreneurship among undergraduates and therby assisting in solving the unemployment problem faced by state undergraduate students.