Investigating the Entrepreneurial Potential of Students – Design and Preliminary Validity Data of the Assessment Center Method

Complex and accurate diagnostic of the entrepreneurial potential requires a flexible assessment method that could investigate complex and specific constructs, having high face validity and credible results for the assesses, while instrumenting a rich feedback for the development needs. Due to its consistent operational validity and responsiveness to the mentioned requirements, the assessment center is proposed as a method that could contribute to the investigation of entrepreneurial potential of students. An AC designed according to the Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Assessment Center Operations (International Task Force on Assessment Center Guidelines) has been implemented within a career center in a university. 163 students divided in groups of 10-12 participants participated in 14 assessment centers, being observed by 4 assessors. The results indicate a high concordance level between the four assessors (Kendall W between .83-.90; p ≤ .01), similar with the results reported in literature. This high fidelity of measurements is evidence that the assessment center can be a reliable method to evaluate behaviors in this context, providing a preliminary argument regarding the use of the assessment center in the diagnostic of entrepreneurial potential.