Entrepreneurs' perception and its relationship with social and commercial entrepreneurial intention. The case of university students from the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology of the Complutense University of Madrid

Abstract

This study examines the factors that influence both commercial and social entrepreneurial intentions among university students, with a particular focus on how they perceive entrepreneurs. Drawing upon the main theoretical constructs of traditional and social entrepreneurship, a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach was applied to data collected from 198 students at the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology, Complutense University of Madrid. The results show that commercial entrepreneurial intention is primarily driven by individual-level factors such as entrepreneurial attitude and alertness, while social entrepreneurial intention is more strongly influenced by the entrepreneurial ecosystem and institutional support. Furthermore, students with a commercial orientation tend to hold a more favorable perception of entrepreneurs, viewing them as role models, whereas those with a social orientation adopt a more critical stance, often associating entrepreneurship with profit-driven motives. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring educational strategies and support policies to the distinct profiles of commercial and social entrepreneurs. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the differentiated nature of entrepreneurial intentions and perceptions in the context of higher education.