About the Book
This Handbook examines the diverse methodologies and philosophies employed in research on entrepreneurship, small enterprises and family businesses. Exploring fundamental questions involved in data collection, this new and updated edition emphasises the increased importance of understanding the nuances of methods and applications in today’s research landscape.
Building on rich scholarly traditions, the Handbook places particular focus on ignored and misunderstood research concepts. New chapters consider the complex ethical dilemmas facing researchers in entrepreneurship and assess how to best leverage large-scale secondary data for maximum research impact. Expert contributors analyse key issues in the field including how to measure progress in research, experimental methods, theory development and testing, and how to conduct cross-cultural studies. They identify fruitful research directions for emerging and seasoned scholars, demonstrating how to produce work that is both practical and theoretically important.
Covering both quantitative and qualitative techniques, this Handbook is an essential resource for students and scholars of entrepreneurship. It is also a valuable read for academics across business and management more widely, providing a detailed overview of essential methods for all researchers in the field.
Table of Contents:
Contents
1 Research in entrepreneurship: an introduction to the research challenges for the twenty-first century 1
M�a�l�i�n� �B�r�än�n�b�a�c�k�,� �A�l�a�n� �C�a�r�s�r�u�d�,� �D�i�a�n�a� �H�e�c�h�a�v�a�r�r�i�a�,� �J�i�l�l� �K�i�c�k�u�l� �a�n�d� �R�i�c�h�a�r�d� �T�.� �H�a�r�r�i�s�o�n�
2 Unraveling the ethical dilemmas of research in entrepreneurship: a comprehensive analysis 10
B�e�n�s�o�n� �H�o�n�i�g� �a�n�d� �J�a�v�i�d� �N�a�f�a�r�i�
3 From philosophy of science to theory testing: generating practical knowledge in entrepreneurship 22
T�h�o�m�a�s� �P�.� �K�e�n�w�o�r�t�h�y� �a�n�d� �W�.� �E�d�w�a�r�d� �M�c�M�u�l�l�a�n�
4 Leveraging large-scale secondary data in entrepreneurship research 42
D�i�a�n�a� �M�.� �H�e�c�h�a�v�a�r�r�i�a�,� �A�l�a�n� �C�a�r�s�r�u�d� �a�n�d� �P�a�v�a�s� �P�a�n�d�e�y�
5 Thoughts on the challenge of empirical research in entrepreneurship 93
D�a�v�i�d� �D�e�e�d�s�
6 Measuring progress in entrepreneurship research 103
L�i�n�d�a� �F�.� �E�d�e�l�m�a�n�,� �T�a�t�i�a�n�a� �S�.� �M�a�n�o�l�o�v�a�,� �C�a�n�d�i�d�a� �G�.� �B�r�u�s�h� �a�n�d� �S�c�o�t�t� �L�a�t�h�a�m�
7 Experimental methods in entrepreneurship research 134
K�e�l�l�y� �G�.� �S�h�a�v�e�r�
8 Looking into the future: valid multiple- and single-item measures in entrepreneurship research 159
L�e�o�n� �S�c�h�j�o�e�d�t�,� �K�r�i�t�t�a�y�a� �S�a�n�g�b�o�o�n� �a�n�d� �K�e�l�l�y� �G�.� �S�h�a�v�e�r�
9 Control variables: use, misuse, and recommended use 182
L�e�o�n� �S�c�h�j�o�e�d�t�,� �K�r�i�t�t�a�y�a� �S�a�n�g�b�o�o�n� �a�n�d� �B�a�r�b�a�r�a� �B�i�r�d�
10 Cross-cultural studies in entrepreneurship: a note on culture and language 201
M�a�l�i�n� �B�r�än�n�b�a�c�k�,� �S�t�e�f�a�n� �L�ån�g�,� �A�l�a�n� �C�a�r�s�r�u�d� �a�n�d� �S�i�r�i� �T�e�r�j�e�s�e�n� �
11 Fighting a rearguard action? Reflections on the philosophy and practice of qualitative research in entrepreneurship 220
Richard T. Harrison and Claire M. Leitch
12 Ethnographic approaches to entrepreneurship and small-business research: what lessons can we learn? 246
Karin Berglund and Caroline Wigren
13 The practice approach and interactive research in entrepreneurship and small-scale venturing 269
Bengt Johannisson
About the Author :
Edited by Malin Brännback, Dean and Chaired Professor of International Business, Åbo Akademi University, Finland, Alan L. Carsrud, Åbo Akademi University, Finland, and Carsrud & Associates, Consultants to Entrepreneurs & Family Firms, Texas, USA, Diana M. Hechavarria, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Julian E. Lange Term Chair, Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship,, USA and Jill Kickul, Distinguished University Professor, EGADE Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
Review :
‘This Handbook tackles some of the most urgent issues in entrepreneurship research today, including ethical challenges, empirical rigor, cross-cultural studies, use of large-scale secondary data, experiments and new measures, and contemporary qualitative methodologies including ethnography and practice approaches. The editors have brought together a team of distinguished scholars from the entrepreneurship field, who delve into both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, providing readers with a robust toolkit to advance the quality and impact of their research.’
‘This Handbook offers critical insights into the choices research scholars face in applying appropriate methods to make important contributions to entrepreneurship theory and practice. Given the multidisciplinary nature of entrepreneurship, this Handbook provides ways to consider the “when, how, and why” to apply the “what” of various methodologies to researching specific entrepreneurship topics. This is an important resource, not only for those individuals starting to explore various entrepreneurship topics but also for established scholars who want to stay current with insights and advice from leading scholars in the entrepreneurship field.’
‘This Handbook is a thought-provoking and comprehensive guide for researchers in small business, entrepreneurship, and family business. Edited by leading scholars Malin Brännback, Alan Carsrud, Diana Hechavarria, and Jill Kickul, this Handbook tackles fundamental questions and provides practical solutions to methodological issues. From addressing experimental methods to navigating language issues in cross-cultural research, this volume is my go-to reference for robust and rigorous methodology in entrepreneurship research.’
