THE INFLUENCE OF COGNITIVE VALUES ON ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION AMONG POLYTECHNICS STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to identify the relationship between cognitive values namely
personal attraction, social valuation, and entrepreneurial capacity with entrepreneurial intention
among students from Polytechnic Malaysia. Besides, this research also aims to identify the differences
in the entrepreneurship intention among three categories of polytechnics namely Premier
Polytechnics, Conventional Polytechnics, and METrO Polytechnics. A total number of 171
polytechnic students were involved in the quantitative survey, using purposive stratified random
sampling method. The survey used entrepreneurship intention model, which is adapted based on
Theory of Planned Behavior. The result explains a positive significant relationship between the level
of cognitive values and entrepreneurship intention among polytechnic students. Research results also
indicated significant differences in the level of entrepreneurship intention among three categories of
polytechnics. Thus, this result justify the need for entrepreneurship education through programs,
training and events which strengthen the cognitive values as the key factor in the entrepreneurial
intention among Polytechnics’ students.