The discriminant validity of entrepreneurial passion

We conducted two studies to develop and test a psychometrically sound multi-dimensional measure of entrepreneurial passion. This entrepreneurial passion scale is distinguished from scales measuring similar theoretical constructs including hope, optimism, state positive emotion, and state negative emotion. It is also differentiated from nonentrepreneurship specific passion scales of obsessive and harmonious passion (Vallerand, et al., 2003), and a more general scale of passion for work (Baum et al., 2001). Results from these studies demonstrate the criterion, convergent, and discriminant validity of the measure, and indicate support for three sub-scales of entrepreneurial passion consistent with the theoretical development of Cardon, et al. (in press). Implications for research on emotion in entrepreneurship are discussed.