PERFORMANCE VARIATION WITH AGE AND EDUCATION: PERCEPTION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN PAPUMPARE DISTRICT, ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

Entrepreneurs are influential in initiating and sustaining socio
economic development. Nonetheless, women entrepreneurs are
actively contributing to economic growth, improving their socio
economic conditions, and playing a vital role in generating employment
opportunities. This research focuses on the examination of how the
perception of entrepreneurs' performance differs based on their age
and educational background. Data were gathered from 340 women
entrepreneurs residing in the Papum-Pare District of Arunachal
Pradesh, India. The Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to assess
variations in performance perceptions concerning the respondents'
age and educational backgrounds. Our findings show that while age
and education does not have a direct impact on perception across
dimensions of performance among entrepreneurs, education levels
however, significantly impact on perception of performance in terms
of social contribution. The mean rank for social contributions is highest
among those with 'No Education' followed by those under the group
'Primary'; while the mean rank of the group 'Graduate' is lowest among
all. These results indicate that entrepreneurs with 'No Education'
have the highest positive perception towards their social contribution.
'Graduate' entrepreneurs show the lowest positive perception towards
social contribution as compared to other groups. These findings
provide a foundation for further research into the nuances of women's
entrepreneurship in Arunachal Pradesh.