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Specifying the role of religion in entrepreneurial action: a cognitive perspective

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  • Saulo Dubard Barbosa

    (Entrepreneurship and Innovation (InvEnt) Research Center, EMLYON Business School)

  • Brett R. Smith

    (Miami University)

Abstract

Research on the relationship between religion and entrepreneurship has produced mixed findings. We argue such equivocal findings are partly the result of under-specification of the role of religion in entrepreneurial action. To address this issue, we build on the process perspective of entrepreneurial cognition by simultaneously incorporating mental representations and cognitive resources. Specifically, we theorize a cognitive process that incorporates both framing effects of opportunity cues and religious belief integration based on sanctification into the assessment of feasibility and desirability of entrepreneurial action. Through two within-subject experiments, we find (i) positively framed opportunity cues yield more favorable assessments of entrepreneurial action than negatively framed opportunity cues, and (ii) religious belief integration moderates the relationship between framing and assessments of entrepreneurial action, enhancing perceived feasibility and desirability when information framing is negative. We discuss the implications of our model to research the theological turn of entrepreneurship and a cognitive perspective of entrepreneurial action.

Suggested Citation

  • Saulo Dubard Barbosa & Brett R. Smith, 2024. "Specifying the role of religion in entrepreneurial action: a cognitive perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1315-1336, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:62:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-023-00839-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-023-00839-2
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Opportunity evaluation; Entrepreneurial action; Religion; Religious belief integration; Theological turn; Information framing; Opportunity cues;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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