Sociological Understandings of Entrepreneurial Action and Intention

Authors

Jeffrey Cavanaugh, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Varkey Titus, Jr.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Committee Members

Alok Kumar, Amy Bartels, Matthew Barlow

Department

Business (Management)

Date of this Version

5-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Citation

A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Major: Business (Management)

Under the supervision of Professor Varkey Titus, Jr.

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2025

Comments

Copyright 2025, Jeffrey Cavanaugh. Used by permission

Abstract

Entrepreneurship as a trend has emerged across many different disciplines, drawing on theory from psychology, economics, and sociology. Importantly, sociologic aspects of entrepreneurship remain hidden from scholarship, as existing topics are often vague or narrowly partitioned. In my dissertation, I utilize sociological understandings of human interactions which define entrepreneurial intention and action. Specifically, I explore how entrepreneurs’ religion, rurality, and social media use influences their behaviors. Throughout these three quantitative essays, I contribute to a better understanding of the social psychology of entrepreneurship, and why entrepreneurial pursuits are so intricately linked to every aspect of society. Throughout my research, which provides a new direction for entrepreneurship researchers, I build a framework for understanding the entrepreneur as a part of a social system of interconnected relationships on which ideas and behaviors are formed.

Advisor: Varkey Titus, Jr.

Recommended Citation

Cavanaugh, Jeffrey, "Sociological Understandings of Entrepreneurial Action and Intention" (2025). Dissertations and Doctoral Documents from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–. 287.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissunl/287