Title: Expanding the scope of methodologies used in entrepreneurship research

Authors: Leo Paul Dana, Teresa E. Dana

Addresses: University of Canterbury, Commerce Building, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. ' Christchurch College of Education, School of Business, Dovedale Avenue, P.O. Box 31 065, Christchurch, 8030, New Zealand

Abstract: If we accept that entrepreneurs are influenced by culture, then the simplest possible unit of research for understanding entrepreneurship is not the entrepreneur. Nor is it a laboratory study of individuals nor even a field study comparing entrepreneurs, but rather it is useful to have a case study in which the important aspects of environment are analysed and understood. It is doubtful, then, that a mail survey or even interviews could be sufficient for a researcher to truly gain a holistic understanding of the entrepreneurial process.

Keywords: research methodology; qualitative methods; entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial process.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2005.006071

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2005 Vol.2 No.1, pp.79 - 88

Published online: 30 Jan 2005 *