A comparison of the perceptions of entrepreneurial traits by program and gender among secondary at-risk, vocational, and college-preparatory students

Purpose of study. The purpose of the study was to compare the ratings of entrepreneurial traits by students enrolled in an alternative high school, vocational courses in a career center, and college preparatory courses in a comprehensive high school by program and gender.; Procedures. Participants were 120 eleventh-grade students enrolled in an alternative high school (39 students), vocational courses in a career center (41 students), and college preparatory courses in a comprehensive high school (40 students). Students rated 22 entrepreneurial traits using a Likert scale survey form to indicate which entrepreneurial traits were important for success as an entrepreneur.; The two independent variables were high school programs (alternative, vocational, and college preparatory) and gender. The dependent variable was the importance ratings of entrepreneurial traits. The traits were grouped together into three entrepreneurial traits importance groups: Most Important for Success, Important for Success, and Least Important for Success as an entrepreneur. Descriptive data were reported for each of the entrepreneurial traits and the importance groups by high school program and gender. Inferential statistics were analyzed using a three-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc comparison.; Findings. No statistically significant differences were found in the ratings of entrepreneurial traits by students enrolled in the three high school programs. No statistically significant differences were found in the ratings of entrepreneurial traits between male and female students. No statistically significant differences were found in the interaction of high school programs and gender. Statistically significant differences were found in the interaction of entrepreneurial traits importance groups, entrepreneurial traits importance groups and high school programs, and entrepreneurial traits importance groups and gender.; Recommendations. Suggested recommendations are (a) current entrepreneurs (different age groups) need to be surveyed to validate entrepreneurial traits perceived to be necessary for success today; (b) an extended statewide, regional, or national study should be completed that focuses on determining if certain groups of high school students possess more or different levels of entrepreneurial traits; (c) a study should be conducted on the impact that technology, the Internet, and e-commerce are having on entrepreneurs; (d) a qualitative study of schools that provide entrepreneurial ventures for students should be completed to determine if these programs reduce the dropout rate; (e) the sociological and environmental factors that may affect an individual's choice to become an entrepreneur should be studied; (f) the backgrounds, values, traits, and motivations of female, and other minority, entrepreneurs should be investigated; and (g) a comparative study of entrepreneurs from other countries and cultures should be completed.