On Field Research Methods for Theory Building and Testing

Numerous researchers have examined entrepreneurshipfrom varied perspectives, analyzing by units such as the individual, theenvironment, the project, and the new organization. However, researchers fromother fields often criticize entrepreneurship research for several reasonsincluding the lack of a conceptual framework and the research method used toinvestigate entrepreneurship. Thus, this review has three purposes: 1) identifydifferent units of analysis through the use of a new venture formation model;2) address the challenges and limits of conducting international research; and3) examine the role of research methods in creating a common theory ofentrepreneurship. Factors to consider when choosing a unit of analysis for a researchprojectare discussed. The challenges of organizing a research project atan international level are examined.The difficulties of internationalresearch include translation and understanding of questions, sampling andcollecting data, and monitoring the quality of survey firms.Finally, therole of the field research methods in entrepreneurship research isevaluated.Six major categories of entrepreneurship field studies include:observations, interviews, questionnaires, archival analysis, field experiments,and multi-method study.Then the role of field methods in developingtheories about entrepreneurship is analyzed.In closing, recommendationsfor areas of future research are proposed, and techniques for improvingentrepreneurial research are considered. (AKP)