Why is "what is good entrepreneurship research" a big question?

The chapter discusses the evolution of entrepreneurship research, tracing its growth from a marginal sub-field to a legitimate and mature field. The interest in entrepreneurship stems from public policy initiatives, leading to increased research of entrepreneurial practices and the development of new data collection methods. The field has eschewed generalization due to its exponential growth and subsequent fragmentation, with thematic treatments becoming isolated and diverse. New quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods have emerged to understand entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial phenomena. Despite progress, challenges persist, primarily due to the field’s amorphous nature. The authors of this volume emphasize the importance of aligning research with philosophical, ontological questions and methodological considerations to contribute meaningfully to academic conversation. They advocate for a continuous exploration of new (and better) questions in entrepreneurship research, challenging assumptions, and avoiding irrelevant studies through more germane methods. In conclusion, the authors underscore the progress made and the challenges that remain.