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What makes entrepreneurship research interesting? Reflections on strategies to overcome the rigour–relevance gap

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  • Hermann Frank
  • Hans Landström

Abstract

As entrepreneurship researchers compete to have their work published and universities strive to attract the best entrepreneurship scholars, it is appropriate to examine what makes entrepreneurship research interesting. Interesting studies are usually defined as well-crafted and well-written studies that challenge established knowledge, and produce new theories and findings. This paper examines entrepreneurship scholars’ views on the characteristics of interesting entrepreneurship research by means of a qualitative approach. Eight focus group interviews comprising junior and senior entrepreneurship scholars were conducted. A core finding is that interesting studies must be relevant to practice. However, the institutionalization of entrepreneurship as an academic field has favoured rigour at the cost of relevance, leading to scholars’ frustration with the rigour–relevance gap. In this paper, we analyse various dimensions of interestingness and reflect on strategies for overcoming the rigour–relevance gap, with particular focus on the creation of applicative knowledge.

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  • Hermann Frank & Hans Landström, 2016. "What makes entrepreneurship research interesting? Reflections on strategies to overcome the rigour–relevance gap," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1-2), pages 51-75, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:28:y:2016:i:1-2:p:51-75
    DOI: 10.1080/08985626.2015.1100687
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. Fayolle, 2007. "Handbook of Research in Entrepreneurship Education," Post-Print halshs-00275633, HAL.
    2. A. Fayolle, 2007. "Handbook of Research in Entrepreneurship Education," Post-Print halshs-00312071, HAL.
    3. A. Fayolle, 2007. "Handbook of Research in Entrepreneurship Education - Contextual Perspectives," Post-Print halshs-00275639, HAL.
    4. A. Fayolle, 2007. "Handbook of Research in Entrepreneurship Education –Contextual Perspectives»," Post-Print halshs-00312074, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yashar Mansoori & Martin Lackéus, 2020. "Comparing effectuation to discovery-driven planning, prescriptive entrepreneurship, business planning, lean startup, and design thinking," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 791-818, March.
    2. Harrison, Richard T., 2023. "W(h)ither entrepreneurship? Discipline, legitimacy and super-wicked problems on the road to nowhere," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    3. Hunt, Richard A. & Townsend, David M. & Manocha, Parul & Simpson, Joseph J., 2023. "Knowledge problem diagnosis and the fate of corporate entrepreneurship initiatives," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    4. Bastian, Bob & Zucchella, Antonella, 2023. "Nascent entrepreneurs during start-up competitions: Between beauty contests and co-created problematization," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    5. Luis Javier Cabeza Ramírez & Sandra M. Sánchez-Cañizares & Fernando J. Fuentes-García, 2019. "Past Themes and Tracking Research Trends in Entrepreneurship: A Co-Word, Cites and Usage Count Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-32, June.
    6. Fadil Sahiti, 2021. "Institutions and entrepreneurial activity: a comparative analysis of Kosovo and other economies," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(1), pages 98-119, February.
    7. Rodgers, Waymond & Degbey, William Y. & Söderbom, Arne & Leijon, Svante, 2022. "Leveraging international R&D teams of portfolio entrepreneurs and management controllers to innovate: Implications of algorithmic decision-making," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 232-244.
    8. Michela Loi & Alain Fayolle & Marco van Gelderen & Elen Riot & Deema Refai & David Higgins & Radi Haloub & Marcus Alexandre Yshikawa Salusse & Erwan Lamy & Caroline Verzat & Fabrice Cavarretta, 2022. "Entrepreneurship Education at the Crossroads: Challenging Taken-for-Granted Assumptions and Opening New Perspectives," Post-Print hal-03983114, HAL.
    9. Cristian Gherhes & Tim Vorley & Nick Williams, 2018. "Entrepreneurship and local economic resilience: the impact of institutional hysteresis in peripheral places," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 577-590, October.
    10. Ana Joana Fernandes & Joao J. Ferreira, 2022. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks: a literature review and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 189-247, January.

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