Cultural Comparison of University Students in Entrepreneurial Intentions, Creativity, and Emotional Intelligence: An Example of the USA and Turkey

Year 2023, Issue: 17, 1 - 10, 31.10.2023

Fatih Yıldırım , İnci Yilmazli Trout Stephanie Hartzell Seda Kayapalı Yıldırım

https://doi.org/10.29157/etusbed.1303240

Abstract

İnsan kaynağının sağladığı katma değer, ülkelerin refah düzeyini önemli ölçüde etkilemektedir. İnsan kaynaklarının yetiştirilmesinde en önemli unsurlardan birisi ise eğitimdir. Eğitim sistemlerinin başarısı, yetiştirilen bireylerin niteliklerine bağlıdır. Özellikle girişimcilik niyeti, yaratıcılık ve duygusal zeka eğitim ve toplumsal kültürden etkilenebilir. Bu unsurlar, doğuştan sahip oldukları yeteneklere bağlı olarak bireyler arasında farklılıklar gösterebilirken iyi bir eğitim, çevresel ve baskın olan kültürel faktörler, kişisel faktörleri geliştirebilir.
Bu nicel çalışma, Türkiye ve Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'ndeki (ABD) lisansüstü öğrencilerinin girişimcilik niyetleri, yaratıcılık ve duygusal zeka düzeyleri açısından bir karşılaştırma sağlamayı amaçlamıştır. Bu kapsamda Türkiye ve ABD'de iki farklı üniversitede 799 öğrenciye anket uygulanmıştır. Verileri analiz ederken, yapısal geçerliliği elde etmek için doğrulayıcı faktör analizi ve ardından karşılaştırmalı testler yapılmıştır. Sonuçlar, ABD eğitim gören üniversitesinde öğrencilerinin Türkiye'de eğitim gören öğrencilere oranla duygusal zeka boyutlarından; problem çözme becerilerinin, duygusal farkındalığın, kişilerarası ilişkilerin ve bunun yanında yaratıcılığın daha yüksek düzeyde olduğu gözlenmiştir. Öte yandan, Türkiye'deki öğrenciler daha yüksek düzeyde özdenetim ve girişimcilik niyeti göstermiştir. Sonuçlar kültürel bir bağlamda tartışılmış ve buna göre öneriler sunulmuştur.

Keywords

Duygusal Zekâ, Girişimci Niyeti, Yaratıcılık, Yüksek Öğretim

Cultural Comparison of University Students in Entrepreneurial Intentions, Creativity, and Emotional Intelligence: An Example of the USA and Turkey

Abstract

The added value of human resources has a significant impact on the level of welfare of countries. One of the most important elements of human resource development is education. The success of education systems depends on the qualities of the individuals they educate. In particular, concepts such as entrepreneurship, creativity, and emotional intelligence can be influenced by education and social culture. These elements may vary from individual to individual, depending on their innate abilities. However, a good education, and environmental and dominant cultural factors can improve individual factors.
This quantitative study aimed to provide a comparison between graduate students in Turkey and the United States of America (USA) in terms of levels of entrepreneurial intentions, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Within this context, we surveyed 799 students in two different universities in Turkey and the USA. In analyzing the data, we completed a confirmatory factor analysis to obtain structural validity followed by comparative tests. The results demonstrated that the students in the US university had higher levels in emotional intelligence dimensions of problem-solving skills, emotional awareness, and interpersonal relations as well as creativity when compared with the students in Turkey. On the other hand, the students in Turkey showed higher levels of self-control, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurial intentions. The results were discussed within a cultural context and recommendations were provided accordingly.

Keywords

Emotional intelligence, Entrepreneurial intentions, Creativity, Higher education

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