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Dear colleagues,

Applied Psychology just published a special issue on Advances in the Psychology of Entrepreneurship. The contributions include exciting original studies including on serial entrepreneurship, goal realization processes, regulatory focus, the dynamics of autonomy, informal learning, crowdfunding, ADHD and cross-country differences; as well as a commentary by Per Davidsson on opportunities for psychologists to contribute to entrepreneurship, and a review of this literature. -  If you encounter problems accessing any of the papers below, email us at appliedpsychol@gmail.com  to receive a copy of the papers for private use.

Are you interested in proposing a special issue to Applied Psychology yourself? See our guidelines http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1464-0597/homepage/call_for_special_issues.htm.

Enjoy reading,

Ute

***scroll further down for abstracts***

Gorgievski, M. and Stephan, U. (2016). Advancing the Psychology of Entrepreneurship: A Review of the Literature and an Introduction to the Special Issue. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 437–468.

Van de Vliert, E., Janssen, O. and Van der Vegt, G. S. (2015), Hard or Easy? Difficulty of Entrepreneurial Startups in 107 Climato-Economic Environments. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 469–489.

Ciuchta, M. P., Letwin, C., Stevenson, R. M. and McMahon, S. R. (2016), Regulatory Focus and Information Cues in a Crowdfunding Context. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 490–514.

Keith, N., Unger, J. M., Rauch, A. and Frese, M. (2015), Informal Learning and Entrepreneurial Success: A Longitudinal Study of Deliberate Practice among Small Business Owners. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 515–540.

Van Gelderen, M. (2016). Entrepreneurial autonomy and its dynamics. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 541–567.

Thurik, R., Khedhaouria, A., Torrès, O. and Verheul, I. (2016), ADHD Symptoms and Entrepreneurial Orientation of Small Firm Owners. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 568–586.

Laguna, M., Alessandri, G. and Caprara, G. V. (2016), Personal Goal Realisation in Entrepreneurs: A Multilevel Analysis of the Role of Affect and Positive Orientation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 587–604.

Simmons, S., Carr, J.C., Hsu, D.K. and Shu, C. (2016). The regulatory fit of serial entrepreneurship intentions. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 605–627

Davidsson, P. (2016). Entrepreneurship Research: Opportunities for Psychology.  Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 628–636..

********ABSTRACTS*********

Gorgievski, M. and Stephan, U. (2016). Advancing the Psychology of Entrepreneurship: A Review of the Literature and an Introduction to the Special Issue. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 437–468. doi: 10.1111/apps.12073

This article provides a narrative review of psychology of entrepreneurship research published in leading psychology journals, based on which we develop an organising framework for future psychological contributions to this field. Furthermore, we introduce the manuscripts collected in this special issue. Our review identified five research areas, broadly corresponding with basic psychological domains, namely personal differences; careers; health and well-being; cognition and behaviour; and leadership; as well as three cross-cutting themes: gender issues; genetic and biological foundations; and context. With the aim to stimulate integration across different approaches and disciplines, we propose a framework to understand how psychologists can offer innovative contributions to the multi-disciplinary entrepreneurship literature. This includes a focus on the entrepreneur embedded in and in interaction with his or her immediate and wider context; attention to different types of entrepreneurs; and a focus on dynamic within-person processes evolving over time.

Van de Vliert, E., Janssen, O. and Van der Vegt, G. S. (2015), Hard or Easy? Difficulty of Entrepreneurial Startups in 107 Climato-Economic Environments. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 469–489. doi: 10.1111/apps.12057.

Driven by existential needs for thermal comfort, nutrition, and health, human populations create cultural adaptations to environmental conditions. Entrepreneurs starting new businesses in more threatening or more challenging environments may be a case in point. In a secondary analysis of population-level data from 107 nations, we cross-sectionally examined six adaptation hypotheses based on climato-economic theorising. The regression results show that new business creation is experienced as being the hardest in the threatening environments of poorer countries with colder winters and cooler summers (e.g. Bolivia and Ukraine), and as being the easiest in the challenging environments of richer countries with hotter summers and warmer winters (e.g. Singapore and United Arab Emirates). Rival explanations in terms of the historical trajectory of state emergence (state antiquity, colonial past, communist past) and societal development (industrialisation, democratisation, education) are ruled out and discussed. This article suggests that results of individual-level and group-level research into entrepreneurship are tentative at best as long as cultural adaptations to climato-economic environments are left out of consideration.

Ciuchta, M. P., Letwin, C., Stevenson, R. M. and McMahon, S. R. (2016), Regulatory Focus and Information Cues in a Crowdfunding Context. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 490–514. doi: 10.1111/apps.12063

It is well understood that information cues associated with an investment opportunity generally impact one's willingness to participate in that opportunity. What is less well understood, however, is how different types of information cues affect individuals differently, and whether this effect is contingent on the decision maker's individual attributes. Through a three-study experimental design involving a simulated crowdfunding portal, this research examined the effects of venture quality information and social information on participants' willingness to invest in a new venture. We hypothesised that participants' responsiveness to these information cues was contingent on their regulatory focus. Our results were generally supported, although some counterintuitive findings emerged regarding prevention-focused individuals. From a practical standpoint, our results suggest potential concerns regarding the general enthusiasm for crowdfunding, as well as some mitigating factors.

Keith, N., Unger, J. M., Rauch, A. and Frese, M. (2015), Informal Learning and Entrepreneurial Success: A Longitudinal Study of Deliberate Practice among Small Business Owners. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 515–540. doi: 10.1111/apps.12054

Informal learning activities are increasingly acknowledged as significant for learning and development in modern workplaces. Yet, systematic research on effects of informal learning on work-related outcomes remains scarce. The present research focuses on deliberate practice-a construct from cognitive-psychological expertise research that describes effortful practice activities specifically designed to improve one's performance. We propose that deliberate practice can be applied informally at work and, in the context of entrepreneurship, may contribute to entrepreneurial success. In a longitudinal study with 132 small business owners in Germany, we found partial support for the notion that success is increased in entrepreneurs who engage in self-regulated and informal deliberate practice. In addition, deliberate practice interacted with environmental dynamism, indicating that deliberate practice pays off particularly in dynamic environments and may be detrimental in stable environments. This research not only informs entrepreneurial research as it sheds light on how entrepreneurs learn and develop their capabilities outside systematic training. It may also have broader implications for work and organisational psychology as self-regulated deliberate practice may be a useful informal learning activity for a wider range of occupations and across work tasks, particularly those with rapidly changing work requirements.

Van Gelderen, M. (2016). Entrepreneurial autonomy and its dynamics. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 541–567. doi: 10.1111/apps.12066.

Founding and owning an independent business does not automatically provide the owner/founder with autonomy. Autonomy-motivated entrepreneurs must often make an effort to achieve and maintain autonomy. The aim of this research is to investigate the experience of autonomy, its variations over time, and how it is affected by a range of internal and external conditions as well as the actions of the entrepreneur. The research design utilizes a qualitative methodology, asking 61 business owner/founders to respond to a range of vignettes that depict autonomy-related tensions. The results indicate that whether a business owner actively experiences autonomy is best assessed by not only asking for the degree of decisional freedom he or she currently enjoys, but also whether that degree of freedom is chosen voluntarily. Other main findings are that customers regularly represent challenges to autonomy, whereas business partners are often seen to enhance it. The results reveal various autonomy dynamics, showing movements between currently exercised, temporarily sacrificed, and involuntarily lost decisional freedoms. These movements are influenced by a range of factors, including the importance of particular customers or assignments, the phase in the business life cycle, and the financial performance of the business.

Thurik, R., Khedhaouria, A., Torrès, O. and Verheul, I. (2016), ADHD Symptoms and Entrepreneurial Orientation of Small Firm Owners. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 568–586. doi: 10.1111/apps.12062.

This study investigates the link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and entrepreneurial orientation (EO). EO is known to be a crucial factor for small firm survival and growth, conceptualised as a business characteristic but influenced by the personality of the small business owner and measured at her individual level. There is ample anecdotal evidence claiming that ADHD symptoms have helped entrepreneurs in their careers. Using a data set of French small firm owners, we are the first to go beyond the anecdotal level in linking ADHD symptoms and EO. Our study contributes to our understanding of entrepreneurship, particularly the determinants of EO, and to "destigmatising" ADHD, which is considered solely a clinical disorder that should be treated.

Laguna, M., Alessandri, G. and Caprara, G. V. (2016), Personal Goal Realisation in Entrepreneurs: A Multilevel Analysis of the Role of Affect and Positive Orientation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 587–604. doi: 10.1111/apps.12061.

The study aims to explain the mechanisms of entrepreneurs' goal realisation in the work and family domains. It contributes to the understanding of the role of positive and negative goal-related affect and positive orientation in personal goal realisation. A multilevel perspective is applied, as goal realisation varies not only between but also within individuals. The participants in the study were 246 entrepreneurs; each of them had started and owned a business and was either married or had a stable partner. Three scales assessing three components of positive orientation (self-esteem, life satisfaction, and optimism) and the Personal Projects Analysis method were used. Each of the entrepreneurs rated five personal goals related to work and five goals related to family life on dimensions measuring goal realisation and goal-related affect. The results of multilevel structural equation modeling show that positive goal-related affect and positive orientation are positively related, whereas negative affect is negatively related to personal goal realisation in entrepreneurs at the individual and goal levels. The relation of positive affect to family-related (but not to work-related) goal realisation can be further strengthened by positive orientation, both at the individual level and at the goal level.

Simmons, S., Carr, J.C., Hsu, D.K. and Shu, C. (2016). The regulatory fit of serial entrepreneurship intentions. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 605–627. doi: 10.1111/apps.12070.

The question of why some entrepreneurs self-select out of entrepreneurial careers following exits from successful and failed businesses is of growing interest to entrepreneurship scholars. Using two studies and Regulatory Fit Theory as the theoretical lens, we address this question. Study 1 uses the experimental vignette methodology to test whether business exits under harvest and distress conditions diminished or intensified the serial entrepreneurship intentions of 74 experienced entrepreneurs. Study 2 examines the relationship between the serial entrepreneurship intentions of 196 entrepreneurs who exited businesses and their recall of prior experiences with business success or failure. In both studies, we find evidence of a negative relationship between prevention-focused cognition and serial entrepreneurship intentions that intensifies from the regulatory fit of distress business exits. The results of both studies suggest that the cognitive lens used by entrepreneurs to process their business exits play important roles in their intentions to pursue serial entrepreneurship.

Davidsson, P. (2016). Entrepreneurship Research: Opportunities for Psychology.  Applied Psychology: An International Review, 65: 628–636. doi: 10.1111/apps.12071.

In this short essay I offer some "business researcher" advice on how to leverage a strong background in psychology when attempting to contribute to the maturing field of "entrepreneurship research". Psychologists can benefit from within-discipline research, e.g., on emergence; small groups; fit, and expertise as well as method strengths in, e.g., experimentation; operationalization of constructs, and multi-level modeling. However, achieving full leverage of these strengths requires a clear conceptualization of "entrepreneurship" as well as insights into the challenges posed by the nature of this class of phenomena.

****************About Applied Psychology: An International Review**********************

Applied Psychology: An international Review (AP:IR) is the official journal of the International Association of Applied Psychology. AP:IR publishes research across the field of applied psychology, often across different national and cultural contexts.

AP:IR has an impact factor of 1.2 (2-year) and 2.4 (5-year, 2015 Journal Citation Reports(r), Thomson Reuters, 2015). It is ranked '3' on the UK Chartered Association of Business Schools Academic Journal Guide 2015 (ABS list), 'A' on the Australian Business Dean's Council Journal Quality List 2013 (ABDC list), '3' on the French CNRS list, and  'B' on the German VHB-JOURQUAL 3. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1464-0597

Interested in proposing a special issue? We currently have an open call for special issues http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1464-0597/homepage/call_for_special_issues.htm

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Ute Stephan, PhD
Professor of Entrepreneurship, Aston Business School

Editor-in-Chief, 'Applied Psychology: An International Review' 

Director, Aston Centre for Research into International Entrepreneurship and Business

Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, United Kingdom | Phone +44 121 204 31 83 | u.stephan@aston.ac.uk

www.aston.ac.uk/aston-business-school/staff/academic/efe/dr-ute-stephan/

Recent publications

Stephan, U., Patterson, M., Kelly, C. & Mair, J. (2016). Organizations driving positive social change: A review and an integrative framework of change processes. Journal of Management, 42(5), 1250-1281. Free download

Estrin, S., Mickiewicz, T. & Stephan, U. (2016). Human Capital in Social and Commercial Entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing, 31, 449-467.

Gorgievski, M. & Stephan, U. (2016). Advancing the Psychology of Entrepreneurship: A Review and an Introduction. Applied Psychology, 65, 437–468.

Andersson, A., Huysentruyt, M., Miettinen, T. & Stephan, U (2016). Person-organization fit and incentives: A causal test. Management Science, doi:mnsc.2015.2331

Stephan, U., Uhlaner, L., & Stride, C. (2015). Institutions and social entrepreneurship. Journal of International Business Studies, 46, 308-331. Free download