researching eship session 1

8/3/2019 Researching Eship Session 1

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RESEARCHINGENTREPRENEURSHIP

Session 1:Getting Started

Dr. Ingrid Verheul


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COURSE OBJECTIVES

Setting a first step in the direction of your Master Thesis:

Clarification of procedures (session 1)

This course: Researching Entrepreneurship

Beyond this course: Master thesis graduation

Refresh your memory

Getting started (session 1)

Methodology (session 2)

Writing (session 3)

Get you in the right mood (topic & thesis-wise)

Match you with a thesis supervisor

3 meetings with your supervisor (week 44/45; week 48; week 49/50)

Provide you with a (preliminary) topic Work towards your research proposal

To be handed in Tuesday Dec. 20th (before 11.00)


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THIS COURSE: SCHEDULE

Date Deadline/Topic Location

Week 44/45 1st meeting thesis supervisor

Nov. 11 Plenary class I: "Getting Started" VB-47

Nov. 18 Plenary class II: "Methodology" VB-47

Nov. 25 Plenary class III: "Writing" VB-47

Week 48 2nd meeting thesis supervisor

Week 49/50 3rd meeting thesis supervisor

Dec.20th 11.00 DEADLINE Eship Research Proposal


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ABOUT THE MASTER THESIS

Check this out!!!

www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduation
http://www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduationhttp://www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduationhttp://www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduationhttp://www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduationhttp://www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduationhttp://www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduation


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MASTER THESIS ASSESSMENT

www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduation
http://www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduationhttp://www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduation


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8 STEPS TO GRADUATION .

Identify a research question & project

design (Master thesis proposal)Step 1 Write a critical reviewStep 2

Define concepts & conceptual frameworkStep 3

Collect & analyze research dataStep 4 Define, evaluate & interpret resultsStep 5

Write a persuasive & well-structured thesisStep 6

Research ethics & process managementStep 7 Master thesis presentation & oral defenseStep 8


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FORMAT RESEARCH PROPOSAL (DEC.20)

Course assessment through Research Proposal (100%)

Content Research Proposal:

Times New Roman, single-spaced, font size 12

Max. 10 pages

excl. reference list & appendices

excl. title page with topic, course, supervisor, student name & number

This research proposal can be regarded the first draft of your thesis proposal

Front cover Working title/ Student details / Supervisor & co-reader/ Abstract or executivesummary

Introduction & problemstatement

a. Short overview of problem and its relevance supported by key references to putthe problem in a certain domain and field of research

b. Motivation of the problem statement in terms of gap to fill

Research objectives Contribution of the study: how will you fill the gap? Present your research question(s)

Literature review More extensive overview of relevant literature, leading up to conceptual model &hypotheses (in case of theory testing)

Research design Short description of design strategy & sampling design (what information do youneed/use & how will you get it). Is it feasible?

Schedule Reasonable time plan & deliverables. When do you plan to graduate?

References Literature list according to academic standard (e.g. AMJ)


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BUILDING BLOCKS: RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Problem Statement What are we talking about?

Define & illustrate the management dilemma Within a scholarly domain of research

Motivation & Research Objectives What do we know about the topic?

Set the scene and describe the context

What do we NOT know about the topic? Identify a GAP!

What is the purpose of the study? Research objectives: to fill in the gap

Can be formulated as research question(s)

Why is it important? Theoretical contribution

Relevance: who can benefit?

Research Design (plenary session 2)

How to achieve the research objectives? Design strategy (How to collect the data; How to analyze the data) Sampling design (Target population & sample?)

Time table & constraints

Choice depends on nature of the research question


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Anchor for the thesis (for you, supervisor & co-reader)

4 ECTS

Contents?

Set the scene & describe context

Research objectives

Contribution to research: what is the research gap?

Contribution to practice: to whom & why is this study important?

Research question(s)

Conceptual model

Research design

Provisional literature list

Time table

Thesis proposal form

Download online: www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduation

Signed by supervisor & co-reader

Hand in 2 months before graduation date/month

FORMAT MASTER THESIS PROPOSAL (2 MONTHS BEFORE GRADUATION)


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FORMAT MASTER THESIS

50-70 pages

English

Flawless

plagiarism

30,000 words

Cover Page

Preface (incl. disclaimer)

Executive Summary

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Theory

3. Methodology

4. Results

5. Conclusion

Reference List

Appendices

Keep personal motives & story out of the thesis (or put them in the preface)


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THESIS PROCESS: FROM START TO FINISH

Thesis proposal form

EA check &notification

Thesis defense form Final thesis

Electronic thesis tocoach/co-reader

Graduation day!!!

Manage yourself! Your supervisor is not going to keep track of (your) time & deadlines!


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GRADUATION DATES

Check: www.eur.nl/rsmmastergraduation

Deadline thesis proposal form

Graduation dates:1. June 2012 (fast)2. September 2012 (aim!)3. December 2012 (still ok)4. March 2013 (late)5. June 2013 (very late)

Keep in mind that your Master grades expire in 3 years


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GAP PART I: THE SETTING

National, regional and local economic development agencies are using formal entrepreneurialmentoring programs as one of their assistance programs offered to entrepreneurs and smallbusiness owners (Bisk, 2002).This study examines formal entrepreneurial mentoring; a third party providing the match betweenmentors and entrepreneurs. A mentor is an essential asset for a growing company; he/she canwarn of problems at the horizon, help craft solutions to problems and be a sounding board for the

entrepreneur (Cull, 2006). Part of a mentors role is to assist entrepreneurs develop and grow theirbusinesses (Sullivan, 2000).Having a mentor could be very beneficial for a starting entrepreneur, especially if the mentor is anexperienced entrepreneur (Cull, 2006). Mentoring support using experienced entrepreneurs shouldbe effective in overcoming the crucial early stage learning period when new entrepreneurs have tolearn how to handle change, crises and have to make strategic decisions (Deakins et al., 1997).

Master thesis Isabelle Coppens (June 2011)


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GAP PART II: IDENTIFICATION OF THE GAP

When the matching process is provided by a third party, as in formal mentoring programs, matchmaking is almostalways based on a set of criteria (Hale, 2000). However, up to date there is no agreement on the most effective

matchmaking approach (Hale, 2000). This study on formal mentoring aims to determine relevant factors forsuccessfully matching entrepreneurs and mentors.

This research contributes to the existing literature in several ways. First, it makes an important contribution to the

existing general mentoring literature by looking into the determinants of matching success. Although the conceptof mentoring has received a lot of attention by scholars, only a few looked into the matching process (e.g. Hale,2000; Bozeman & Feeney, 2008; Gray & Goregaokar, 2010). A reason for why the topic of mentor-protege matchmay have drawn little attention is that a significant number of mentoring relationships originate as a part of formalprograms, with mentors and proteges choices playing little or no role (Bozeman & Feeney, 2008. The current

study aims to determine possible success factors in the process of mentor matching through a third party, byreviewing feedback from both proteges and mentors.

Such research, from both mentor and protege perspective, is called for repeatedly but is conducted rarely(Wanberg, Kammeyer-Mueller & Marchese, 2006). Allen, Eby & Lentz (2006) identified this gap, the exclusion ofthe mentors perspective, in the literature as well. Mentors are a key component to any formal mentoring effort and

the failure to examine their perceptions provides an incomplete picture of formal mentoring programs (Allen, Eby,& Lentz, 2006). Therefore this study takes both the protege and mentor perspectives into account whendetermining possible factors for success of the match.

Mentoring within the organizational setting is researched and reported in depth (Burke, 1984; Kram, 1985; Noe,1988; Chao, Walz & Gardner, 1992; Fagenon-Eland, Marks & Amendola, 1997; Ragins & Cotton, 1999). There isa small but growing industry of firms and organizations offering training or promoting various mentoring programsfor entrepreneurs (Bisk, 2002). However research on the subject of mentoring within an entrepreneurial contextis lacking. This research would like to answer the call for further research by Waters et al. (2002) regardingmentoring in an entrepreneurial context.

Master thesis Isabelle Coppens (June 2011)


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HOW TO FIND A RESEARCH GAP ?

1

2

3

Missing dimensions or links

Conflicting theoreticalexplanations or empirical evidence

New domain, empirical setting


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HOW TO FIND LITERATURE ?

Check the more recent issues of top journals in the library (title, abstract, full

text) For full text articles go to: http://www.eur.nl/ub

Electronic journals (ABI-Inform, JSTOR, EBSCO, Science Direct, WileyInterscience, Swetswise)

A specific E-journal via Catalogue & Full title journal

Other studies that used the ideas of specific author via Web of Science

(under databanks)

Other data sources: annual reports; Business monitor online, Reuters

Business Insights, LexisNexis, etc.

Find more recent scholarly contributions and links to researcher websites via:Google Scholar

http://scholar.google.nl

Standing on the Shoulder of giantS
http://www.eur.nl/ubhttp://scholar.google.nl/http://scholar.google.nl/http://scholar.google.nl/http://scholar.google.nl/http://www.eur.nl/ub


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RANKING THE SOURCES

Inc. Magazine Frontiers of EntrepreneurshipResearch

Textbook: Introduction toEntrepreneurship

Harvard Business Review Sprout Lecture: Foundations ofEntrepreneurship

SSRN paper* Journal of Business Venturing De Telegraaf

Academy of ManagementJournal

EIM** Report International Entrepreneurshipand Management Journal

* Social Science Research Network

** EIM = Research Institute for Entrepreneurship & Small Business


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WHAT TO USE TO SUPPORT HYPOTHESES?

Academy of Management Journal

Journal of Business Venturing

International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal

Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research

SSRN working paper / EIM Research Reports

For an official ranking of academic journals, check the ERIM Journal List (www.erim.eur.nl)


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WHAT TO USE TO SHOW WHY THE TOPIC IS INTERESTING?

Harvard Business Review

Inc. Magazine / Sprout

Wall Street Journal

De Telegraaf

If you do not have a(n) (up-to-date) research problem yet, go to the websites of these journals for inspiration.


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IMPORTANT JOURNALS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Core Entrepreneurship:

Journal of Business Venturing

Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal

Small Business Economics

Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice

Journal of Small Business Management

International Small Business Journal

Entrepreneurship and Regional Development

Attention for Eship & Related Topics:

Academy of Management Journal

Academy of Management Review

Regional Studies

Journal of Management

Harvard Business Review

Other Relevant Sources:

Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research (http://digitalknowledge.babson.edu/fer)

EIM Research Reports (www.ondernemerschap.nl)
http://digitalknowledge.babson.edu/ferhttp://www.ondernemerschap.nl/http://www.ondernemerschap.nl/http://digitalknowledge.babson.edu/ferhttp://digitalknowledge.babson.edu/fer


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How to go

from numbers

(i.e., practical relevance)to a conceptual model?


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ILLUSTRATION: Gender differences in start-up capital

40

19

16

13

3

9

27

12

8

26

9

18

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50000

Source: EIM


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THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

Discuss the importance / size of the phenomena under study:

Female entrepreneurs

33% of all Dutch entrepreneurs is female

35,000 business started each year, etc.

Start-up capital

Acquiring capital is problem for starting entrepreneurs

Start-up capital important for venture performance

Combine the phenomena into a problem statement

Undercapitalization: female entrepreneurs at a disadvantage .?

Aim: explain the lower amount of start-up capital of women

Go more in-depth into the problem: What holds women entrepreneurs back?

Preference Ability

Need


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RELATING CONCEPTS .

What is the relationship?

For example: positive, negative, curvilinear???

Data shows a negative effect of gender (female) on start-up capital

What explains this relationship?

Why does gender (female) have a negative effect on start-up capital?What are the (theoretical) arguments?

What do we already know about the effect?

What did prior studies found on the relationship?

What do empirical studies show?

Is there consensus?

How have prior studies studied this relationship?

Which methodology / data is used? (survey, case study, etc.)

How are the concepts measured? (numerical or categories, currency, one-time investment?,etc.)

Context of the study? (country, industry, etc.)

In sum: what is the contribution of your study to the solution of the puzzle?


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Authors Independent Dependent Method Sample Outcomes Controls Theoretical

arguments

A & B (1999) Gender(0=male;1 = female)

Start-up capital(in thousands)

Quantitativestudy

N=551 Negativeeffect (offemale)

Industry

C (2005) Gender (0 =

female;1=male)

Amount of bank

credit

Quantitative

study

N=12,000 Positive effect

(of male)

Industry

FulltimeExperience

D et al. (1988) women andmen inservices

Total amount ofstart-up capital(personalfunds+bankloan)

Case study N=5 Negativeeffect

E and F (2000) Gender

(0=male;1=female)

Start-up capital

(categories:< 5,000; 5,000-10,000; >10,000)

Quantitative

study

N=1,200 No significant

effect

Industry

Risk attitudeTime investedNetworking

RECOMMENDATION: DRAFT TABLES OF EMPIRICAL STUDIES

Note that these numbers and references are fictitious and just serve as an example.


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CONCEPTUAL MODEL?

v1

v2

_

?

?


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MODERATION: UNDER WHICH CONDITIONS YOU FIND AN EFFECT?

?

Independent variable Dependent variable

Moderating variable


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MEDIATION: SOMETHING ELSE EXPLAINS THE EFFECT

?

Independent variable Dependent variableMediating variable


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STEPS IN BUILDING A THEORETICAL MODEL: 4 Ws

WHICH?

Which factors impact my dependent variable?

WHAT?

What is the effect of the independent variable on the dependentvariable?

WHY/HOW?

Why/how does the independent variable have this effect?

WHEN?

Under which conditions does this effect (not) take place?


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HYPOTHESES: RIGHT OR WRONG?

H1: Gender has an effect on the amount of start-up

capitalH1: Female entrepreneurs start with a lower amount of

start-up capital than male entrepreneurs.

H2: Industry moderates the effect of female gender on the sizeof the start-up capital

H2: Working in manufacturing negatively moderates the effect ofgender (female) on the size of the start-up capital.

H3: The negative effect of female gender on the amountof start-up capital is smaller for entrepreneurs working in

manufacturing than for entrepreneurs in other industries.H3: The negative effect of female gender on the amount

of start-up capital is smaller for entrepreneurs working inmanufacturing than for entrepreneurs in other industries.


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MORE ABOUT HYPOTHESES

Specific way of stating the research question

Assumes a clear direction (positive, negative, curvilinear)

It may also take the form of a cause-effect statement:

if X then Y

Common pitfalls:

Hypotheses are not properly formulated

Hypotheses do not follow from theoretical arguments

Hypotheses are not linked to the conceptual model


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WHAT COMES FIRST: THEORY OR DATA?

Observation Findings PropositionsTheorybuilding

InductionTypical of qualitative research (bottom-up)

DeductionTypical of quantitative research (top-down)

Theories Hypothesis TestingExplanation

or

Prediction

Both approaches require knowledge of literature & original contribution


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FROM HEADLESS CHICKEN TO ..?


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DEDUCTIVE RESEARCH

Researchquestion What is it that I want to explain?

theory

What are common explanations? What knowledge is missing?

hypotheses

What is my explanation?

What are my concrete expectations?

Datacollection

How do I operationalize my concepts?

Where can I find data to test my hypotheses?

Findings Do the results support / reject my hypotheses?

Revision What do my findings imply for theory & future research?


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INDUCTIVE RESEARCH

Gatherinformation

What phenomenon are you interested in? Study the phenomenon in its natural setting (talk, observe)

Askquestions

Look for emerging themes and answers What is going on here?

Look forpatterns

Look for common themes within & across cases

Developtheory

Interpret & draw conclusions Make sense of your findings

Comparetheory

Compare your insights with those of other theories

researching eship session 1

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