Developing a psychometrically valid scale to assess entrepreneurial behaviour of Makhana growers

Abstract

Entrepreneurial behaviour is a vital factor influencing the growth and sustainability of agribusiness ventures. This study aimed to develop and validate a standardized scale to assess the entrepreneurial behaviour of makhana (foxnut) growers. A structured approach based on Likert’s summated rating scale was used, delineating six key dimensions viz., innovativeness, risk-bearing ability, decision-making ability, achievement motivation, self-confidence and management orientation. Initially, 70 statements were formulated and refined through expert validation, narrowing them down to 42 relevant statements. Item analysis was conducted using a t-test on a sample of 60 makhana growers, leading to the selection of 25 statements based on a minimum t-value of 2.05. Reliability was assessed using the split-half method, yielding Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.909 and 0.910 for the two halves with an overall Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.945, demonstrating high internal consistency. Content validity was established through expert judgment, while a correlation matrix analysis confirmed moderate inter-item correlations, ensuring construct validity. The developed scale provides a reliable tool for assessing entrepreneurial traits among makhana growers and can guide policy interventions, capacity-building initiatives and further research in agricultural entrepreneurship.