Handbook of Qualitative Research Techniques and Analysis in Entrepreneurship

Edited by Helle Neergaard, Professor of Entrepreneurship, School of Business and Social Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark and Claire M. Leitch, Professor of Entrepreneurial Leadership, Lancaster University Management School, UK

'This is a much-needed addition to research methods in entrepreneurship. This book champions valuable practices for studying entrepreneurial phenomena in rigorous ways. Five qualitative interview methods (constant comparative technique, metaphor methodologies, critical incident technique, focus groups and repertory grids) are grounded in prior theory and research, and demonstrated in specific research situations in ways that offer scholars insightful and important approaches to exploring entrepreneurship. This is a ''must buy'' for scholars who want to utilize better and more insightful methods for exploring the ideas, context and praxis of entrepreneurship.' --William B. Gartner, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark and California Lutheran University, US

• Contents:IntroductionPART 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTANT COMPARATIVE TECHNIQUEAlistair R. Anderson and Sarah L. Jack1. Using the Constant Comparative Technique to Consider Network Change and EvolutionSarah L. Jack, Alistair R. Anderson, Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd and Susan Moult2. Using Constant Comparison as a Method of Analysis in Entrepreneurship ResearchSusan M. Smith and Edward McKeever3. Grounded Theory Analysis in Entrepreneurship ResearchAnne BøllingtoftThe Future for the Constant Comparative TechniqueAlistair R. Anderson and Sarah L. JackPART II METAPHOR METHODOLOGIES: EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH, PEDAGOGY AND RESEARCHERSSarah Drakopoulou Dodd and Alice de Koning 4. Enacting, Experimenting and Exploring Metaphor Methodologies in Entrepreneurship Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd and Alice de Koning5. Con’text’ualising Images of Enterprise: An Examination of ‘Visual Metaphors’ used to Represent Entrepreneurship in TextbooksRobert Smith6. Metaphors in Communication of Scholarly WorkCecilia BjursellMetaphor Methodologies in Entrepreneurship ResearchSarah Drakopoulou Dodd and Alice de KoningSECTION III THE CRITICAL INCIDENT TECHNIQUE: AN OVERVIEWClaire M. Leitch7. Researching the Entrepreneurial Process using the Critical Incident Technique Elizabeth Chell8. The Efficacy of the Qualitative Variant of the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) in Entrepreneurship ResearchClaire M. Leitch and Frances M. Hill9. A Critical Incident Technique Approach to Entrepreneurship Research using Phenomenological Explicative Data CollectionRichard T. HarrisonCritical Incident Technique: Some ConclusionsClaire M. LeitchPART IVPROVENANCE AND USE OF FOCUS GROUPSJohn Watson and Rick Newby10. Conducting a Traditional Focus GroupJohn Watson, Rick Newby, Helle Neergaard and Robert Smith11. Conducting a Focus Group using Group Support System (GSS) SoftwareGeoff Soutar, Rick Newby and John Watson12. Conducting an On-line Focus GroupRick Newby and John WatsonFocus Groups: What have we Learned?John Watson and Rick NewbyPART VREPERTORY GRIDS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: PRACTICAL EXAMPLES FROM RESEARCHRita G. Klapper17. Using Repertory Grid Technique to Explore the Relationship between Business Founders and Support AgentsAnja Hagedorn18. Using Repertory Grid to Assess Intangibles: Uncertainty Reduction for Lean Start-ups in EntrepreneurshipEnrique Díaz de León and Paul Guild19. Repertory Grid Technique: An Ideographic and Nomothetic Approach to KnowledgeCarmen Dima 20. Concluding Thoughts on Repertory GridsRita G. KlapperIndex