This study focuses on the public relations professionals and their motivations for becoming self-employed. Based on previous research on this group of practitioners and studies in the area of entrepreneurship, it was hypothesized that decision-making process is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that is likely to be affected by variety of motivations and demographic variables. Relying on prior research it was hypothesized that motivations associated with autonomy, financial benefits, potential for greater ability for family-time, as well as the internal locus of control would predict individual odds to become self-employed. The study relied on the expectancy-value theory as its framework. This study replicates and builds on initial studies on independent public relations professionals and goes far beyond what has been studied up to this point. This study replicated the studies and extended them by analyzing the complex nature of decision making in a multivariate context. Thus, the results offer support for development of future studies on public relations practitioners and their motivations for becoming self-employed. It is important to note that the results of this dissertation are relevant beyond the field of public relations. First, findings suggest further support for complexity of decision-making process associated with becoming self-employed. Findings are in line with research on entrepreneurial theory and motivations. Beyond demographic factors such as sex, marital status and age or tenure affecting individual's propensity for becoming self-employed, higher order motivations were found to affect the decision making process. These motivations include greater autonomy, financial benefits and ability to spend more time with a family after becoming independent. The most prominent effect, however, was found for tenure. Finally, this study offers some key insights for the operationalization of expectancy-value theory and suggests approaches to statistical analysis of studies relying on this theory. / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2012. / June 20, 2012. / Entrepreneurial Motivations, Public Relations, Self-Employment / Includes bibliographical references. / Jay Rayburn, Professor Directing Dissertation; Joseph Cronin, University Representative; Gary R. Heald, Committee Member; Stephen McDowell, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_183096 |
| Contributors | Rynarzewska, Anna Izabela, 1983- (authoraut), Rayburn, Jay (professor directing dissertation), Cronin, Joseph (university representative), Heald, Gary R. (committee member), McDowell, Stephen (committee member), School of Communication (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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