University of Dortmund / Hong Kong Baptist University

Professor Dr. Detlef Müller-Böling
Professor Dr. Heinz Klandt
Department of Economic and Social Sciences
Faculty of Methods of Empirical Economic and Social Research
Universität Dortmund

Associate Professor Wai-Sum Siu
Department of Marketing
Hong Kong Baptist University

Inquiry of participants of the lecture
"Introduction into methods of empirical economic and social research"

Please answer the following questions completely.

1. I am years old.
2. My gender is Male
Female
3. I am in the semester since first enrollment.
4. I am going to graduate as MBA
Economist
Sociologist
Teacher
Other (e.g. minor)
5. Originally, I wanted to major in something else than economics/social sciences but could not:
Yes
No.
6. If yes, please indicate why and actually intended major.
7. Considering my academic experiences to date, I regret my decision of major studies:
Yes
No.

Please answer the following questions, too, even if you are not (yet) self-employed.
Please give only one answer for each question.

1. Have you ever seriously thought about setting up your own business?
Yes, briefly
Yes, quite thoroughly
Yes, but I dropped the idea
Yes, I am determined to become self-employed in the future
Yes, I am just starting to do so
Yes, I have already set one up
Yes, I was an entrepreneur but am no more
No, never

2. Regarding your professional situation in general:
I basically work as
a student
a clerk
a scientific/technical employee
a manager/executive
an entrepreneur
something else

3. Regarding your professional independence:
I am independent/self-employed (also part-time)
I was independent/self-employed (also part-time)
I plan to become independent/self-employed
I have never been independent/self-employed, and I do not plan it

4. Regarding your professional independence:
40 hours or more
less than 40 hours
I do not work independently at the moment

5. Please give your personal opinion: treat each statement separately, and do not feel guided by prior statements.
The statement is:

wrong
(1)		 rather
wrong
(2)		 rather
true
(3)
true
(4)
Unemployment should be fought rather by reducing working hours than by fueling the economy.
When I have planned something, I never give up.
When I feel challenged, I achieved a lot.
When I have no real task, I feel uncomfortable.
If I had plenty of money, I would not care about career.
If I won a lottery, I would invest most of the money in a company.
Even without constant ambition, I am satisfied with my life.
The principle of achievement should prevail in our society.
Leisure time is more important to me than work.
When you want to succeed, many things have to be organized carefully.
Only as an exception, I am willing to work more than 50 hours a week.

6. What are, were, or would be, your motives for setting up your own business? (Please evaluate each motive by clicking the appropriate button)
not im-
portant
(1)		 slightly
import.
(2)		 impor-
tant
(3)		 very
import.
(4)
Gain freedom of decision and action
Fulfil your ideas
Strive for economic independence
Lead people
Family tradition
Strive for higher income
Investment/fortune
Earn according to your performance
Labour market and economy
Public reputation
Frustrated as employee
Tax advantages
Create something valuable
Work on your behalf rather than of others
Gain power and influence
Create something lasting, durable
Determine the amount of your income
Work within a unit that can be supervised from the beginning
Possibility to work with your spouse/family member(s)
Taste of adventure
Prove your capacity
Be in touch with other people
Build a successful organization
Do work that you like
Good examples of independence among relatives/peers

7. Why do, would, have, you refrain(ed) from setting up your own business?
not im-
portant
(1)		 slightly
import.
(2)		 impor-
tant
(3)		 very
import.
(4)
Risks are too high
More work than for an employee
No regular work schedule
Political development
Tax burden
Good career perspectives as employee
Problems with employees
Dissatisfactory retirement plans
Good current salary
No start-up capital
Competition inhibited by your current labour contract
Have only special technical skills but no business/ management experience
Unstable income
Negative public image of entrepreneurs
Not the guy for entrepreneurship
No compassion from your spouse/family
Separation of business from private life impossible
More stress and pressure
Entrepreneurship have to do many dull things
Insufficient growth in prospect branches
Probably too old
Entrepreneurship produces much disharmony in your life
Bad experiences from former independence
Bad examples of independence among relatives/ peers

Thank you very much! Do you have any criticisms or suggestions to make? Or do you want to tell us something else? Please feel free to contact:
Empirical Faculty, University of Dortmund, D-44227 Dortmund,
Tel. ++49/231/755-4600