Methodological issues in international entrepreneurship research

doi:10.1016/j.jbusvent.2003.06.001

Journal of Business Venturing

Volume 19, Issue 4, July 2004, Pages 485-508

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2003.06.001 Get rights and content

Abstract

Empirical research in the emerging field of international entrepreneurship (IE) is assessed to provide insight as to the ‘state of the art’ of IE methodologies. Fifty-five articles were systematically analyzed focusing on time frame and research context, sample characteristics, data collection/analysis procedures, and equivalence issues. Results indicate both strengths and weaknesses in IE methods. The authors present implications for developing a unifying methodological direction in the field and the evolution of a truly multidisciplinary approach. They also outline the need for dynamic research designs that integrate positivist with interpretivist methodologies and incorporate time as a key dimension. Finally, they discuss the need for better IE sampling frames and call for more effort in establishing and reporting equivalence in cross-national studies.

Section snippets

Executive Summary

As defined by McDougall and Oviatt (2000, p. 903), international entrepreneurship (IE) is: “…a combination of innovative, proactive and risk-seeking behavior that crosses national borders and is intended to create value in organizations…the study of IE includes research on such behavior and research comparing domestic entrepreneurial behavior in multiple countries.”

This paper reviews and assesses fifty-five empirical studies within the emerging field of IE, providing insight as to the ‘state of

Method

This review is focused on empirical literature representing McDougall and Oviatt's (2000, p. 903) definition of IE as “…a combination of innovative, proactive and risk-seeking behavior that crosses national borders and is intended to create value in organizations…the study of IE includes research on such behavior and research comparing domestic entrepreneurial behavior in multiple countries.”

At a general level, studies eligible for review were those explicitly integrating theory and concepts

Results

As summarized in Table 1, the early empirical literature pertaining to IE began with McDougall's foundation study in 1989, followed by Kolvereid et al. (1993). More studies emerged in 1995/1996, including those published in a special issue of Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. IE research continued to be somewhat sporadic until 1999, when the first publications from the inaugural McGill IE conference appeared in the Journal of International Marketing. 2000 was a banner year for the field

Implications for IE research

A number of implications emerge for IE researchers. We begin with issues that are relatively strategic in nature, including a discussion of the need for a unifying methodological direction, a multidisciplinary approach, pluralism in research design, and accommodation of the complexity of time in IE research. The paper concludes with operational implications regarding sampling design, data collection, and cross-national equivalence issues.

Conclusion

As the field defined as IE begins to coalesce, our objectives were to review and assess the methodological aspects of the IE literature in order to offer insight as to the ‘state of the art’ of IE methods and discuss the implications for future development of the field. By providing a systematic and thorough review of empirical research defined to fall within McDougall and Oviatt's (2000) widely used definition of IE, we conclude that the field is rich in many dimensions, and in a relatively

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^☆: A previous version of this paper was presented at the 2002 Small Business and Enterprise Development Conference, Nottingham, UK.

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Methodological issues in international entrepreneurship research☆

Abstract

Section snippets

Executive Summary

Method

Results

Implications for IE research

Conclusion

J. Bus. Venturing

J. Internat. Manag.

J. Bus. Venturing

J. Bus. Venturing

Int. Bus. Rev.

J. Bus. Venturing

Int. Bus. Rev.

J. Bus. Venturing

Int. Bus. Rev.

J. Bus. Venturing

J. Internat. Manag.

J. Bus. Venturing

J. Internat. Manag.

J. Bus. Venturing

J. Bus. Venturing

J. Bus. Venturing

Int. Bus. Rev.

J. Bus. Venturing

A typology of management studies involving culture

J. Int. Bus. Stud.

An institutional perspective on the role of culture in shaping strategic actions by technology-focused entrepreneurial firms in China

Entrep. Theory Pract.

Internationalisation and market entry mode: a review of theories and conceptual frameworks

Manag. Int. Rev.

The internationalization of the firm from an entrepreneurial perspective

Int. Stud. Manage. Organ.

Leadership styles of Russian entrepreneurs and managers

J. Dev. Entrep.

Effects of age at entry, knowledge intensity and imitability on international growth

Acad. Manage. J.

International expansion through start-up or acquisition: a learning perspective

Acad. Manage. J.

The performance characteristics of Canadian vs. UK exporters in small and medium sized firms

Manag. Int. Rev.

The socio-cultural environment for entrepreneurship: a comparison between East Asian and Anglo-Saxon countries

J. Int. Bus. Stud.

The internationalization of small computer software firms

Eur. J. Mark.

The impact of internal factors on the export success of Dutch small and medium-sized firms

J. Small Bus. Manage.

Supporting women entrepreneurs in transitioning economies

J. Small Bus. Manage.

The internationalization of new high-potential US ventures: antecedents and outcomes

Entrep. Theory Pract.

On the relationship between firm size and export intensity

J. Int. Bus. Stud.

The genesis of entrepreneurship

Entrep. Theory Pract.

The use of native categories in management research

Br. J. Manage.

Measures of international competitiveness: a critical survey

J. Mark. Manag.

The international market entry choices of start-up companies in high technology industries

J. Int. Mark.

Small firms' motivations for exporting: to earn and learn?

J. Small Bus. Manage.

Country institutional profiles: unlocking entrepreneurial phenomena

Acad. Manage. J.

The impact of size on internationalization

J. Small Bus. Manage.

The relationship between firm size and export behavior revisited

J. Int. Bus. Stud.

Methodological issues in empirical cross-cultural research: a survey of the management literature and a framework

Manag. Int. Rev.

Issues of design and construct measurement in entrepreneurship research: the past decade

Entrep. Theory Pract.

The influence of national culture and family involvement on entrepreneurial perceptions and performance at the state level

Entrep. Theory Pract.

Internationalization and the smaller firm: a review of contemporary empirical research

Manag. Int. Rev.

Growing the entrepreneurial firm: networking for international market development

Eur. J. Mark.