Home Search Sitemap Contact Bookmark

Free Dissertations - Economics Dissertations

Dictionary Meanings, As Stated By Lin And Ahrens (2001) Are The Form That Is ...

Dictionary meanings, as stated by Lin and Ahrens (2001) are the form that is usually preferred by researchers as a result of their having standardized meanings comprehensive, and easy to obtain. However, semantically speaking, the meaning of the words attitudes, risk and entrepreneurship change depending upon the context, thus variables are added as a result of using these words in combination, further compounding the equation. As borne out by the limited exploration of meanings for entrepreurship and risk. Thus in exploring the attitudes to the preceding, this examination shall explore these combinations and seek to find common linkages to result in an understanding of the foregoing.

Chapter 2 Attitude
The context of this examination, which represents an exploration into the ‘Attitudes to risk and entrepreneurship', embodies looking at the relationships of these words to define the phrase and bring out its meanings. It is the context in which these words reside, as well as the implications thus resulting, represent the underlying precepts that provide for a broad field of interpretations and thus variants. In beginning with the word ‘attitudes', Houghton Mifflin (2007) defines it as 1. A position of the body or manner of carrying oneself, 2. a. A state of mind or a feeling; disposition, 2. b. An arrogant or hostile state of mind or disposition, 3. The orientation of an air or spacecraft relative to a reference . Its etymology is French, from the Italian word ‘attitudine, which was adopted from late Latin ‘aptitd' (Houghton Mifflin, 2007).
Schneider (2006) advises that the word ‘attitudes' consists of two components. One represents belief, and the other represents feeling (Schneider, 2006). Beliefs are a mental concept association that are usually associated with an identity and as Dr. Schneider (2006) states, are often stereotypical. He continues that these stereotypical beliefs are usually stemmed in the sociodemographic differences of a person (as well as their) personal experience. Thus, based upon the context as well as usage, ‘attitudes' brings with it the usage context as formulated within an individual's historical framework as well. These historical preconceptions, however slight, represent influencing factors acting upon the individual as they mentally traverse through their personal feelings, and beliefs regarding the word sets that follow, thus triggering other memory concepts, feelings and beliefs. Schneider (2006), refers to Sherif in discussing ‘norm formation which represents the prevailing understanding(s) associated with a particular word in contemporary common usage.


Thanks