Thinking to transform: The relationship between critical thinking and social entrepreneurship in university students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between critical thinking and social entrepreneurship in undergraduate students of a private university in Lima. Under a quantitative, applied approach, with a non-experimental and correlational design, we worked with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 100 students. Two validated questionnaires were used: one to evaluate critical thinking, structured in the dimensions of analytical and argumentative capacity, and another to measure social entrepreneurship, composed of five subcompetencies: personal, leadership, social innovation, social value and entrepreneurial management. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v.26 software. Since the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test indicated a non-normal distribution (p < 0.05), Spearman's correlation test was applied. The results revealed a positive and significant correlation between critical thinking and social entrepreneurship (ρ = 0.717), as well as with each of its dimensions, highlighting social innovation (ρ = 0.607) and personal subcompetencies (ρ = 0.588) as the most associated. These findings show the importance of strengthening critical thinking as a key cross-cutting competency in university education, as it promotes essential skills for entrepreneurial action with social impact.