PERSONAL VALUES SCALE: BRAZILIAN ENTREPREUNERS’ STARTUPS SAMPLE VALIDATION

This study aims to validate the personal values that push up entrepreneurs to idealize startups in Brazil. The research respondents are incubated at SEBRAE’s centers, a Brazilian support service for micro and small companies, in Alto do Tietê region, São Paulo, Brazil. The empirical quantitative research used the PQV values scale, the Portrait Questionnaire Value, which evaluates individual values based on Schwartz's model of human values. Continuing the studies of this author, this research is made considering ten types of personal values and four areas that present the following indicators: 1. Conservation (conformity, tradition and security); 2. Openness to change (self-direction, stimulation and hedonism); 3. Self-enhancement (achievement and power); 4. Self-transcendence (benevolence and universalism or philanthropy). The scale contains 40 statements and describes people with different aims, interests and aspirations. A multidimensional scale (MDS), with the aid of R software, analyzed the results in order to position the values dimensions. The hypothesis that the predominant latent values are from the openness to change area was confirmed. Thus, the conclusion is that personal values related to openness to change, such as: self-determination, stimulation and hedonism or pleasure, are latent values in the entrepreneurs interviewed. These values are related to freedom, creativity, audacity and pleasure in their projects.