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Dear ENTREP Colleagues,

Directly related to the exchanges below, the following article summarizes 100 years of research methods in Journal of Applied Psychology (in just 17 pages!). Most of the topics-design, measurement, analysis, and recommendations for authors, journal editors and reviewers-are directly relevant to entrepreneurship research:

·       Cortina, J. M., Aguinis, H., & DeShon, R. P. in press. Twilight of dawn or of evening? A century of research methods in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Journal of Applied Psychology. doi: 10.1037/apl0000163  (available at http://hermanaguinis.com/pubs.html)

All the best,

--Herman.

ABSTRACT

We offer a critical review and synthesis of research methods in the first century of Journal of Applied Psychology. We divide the chronology into six periods. The first emphasizes the first few issues of the journal, which in many ways set us on a methodological course that we sail to this day, and then takes us through the mid-1920s. The second is the period through World War II in which we see the roots of modern methodological concepts and techniques, including a transition from a discovery orientation to a hypothetico-deductive model orientation. The third takes us through roughly 1970, a period in which many of our modern-day practices were formed such as reliance on null hypothesis significance testing. The fourth, from 1970 through 1989, sees an emphasis on the development of measures of critical constructs. The fifth takes us into the present, which is marked by greater plurality regarding data-analytic approaches. Finally, we offer a glimpse of possible and, from our perspective, desirable futures regarding research methods. Specifically, we highlight the need to conduct replications, study the exceptional and not just the average, improve the quality of the review process particularly regarding methodological issues, emphasize design and measurement issues, and build and test more specific theories.

Dear fellow researchers,

As a follow up on Jeff's email, especially in regards to measurements in entrepreneurship, I would like to draw your attention to a three-item unidimensional measure of entrepreneurial self-efficacy; self-efficacy with respect to new venture creation. The measure has good psychometric properties and was a developed and validated using nascent entrepreneurs from PSED I and II. You may find the measure in our recent publication:

Schjoedt, L. & Craig, J. B. (2017). Development and validation of a unidimensional domain-specific entrepreneurial self-efficacy scale. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 23(1), 98-113.

Best Wishes,

Leon