What is it about?

This chapter summarises the most important and commonly used methods to capture the ideas, digital tools, physical resources and social aspects of 'doing entrepreneurship', using creative industry entrepreneurship examples. I explain each of them and their usefulness for ethnographic research conducted in person. The chapter provides guidance on how to consider the people involved when researching entrepreneurial doings and sayings. I offer an overview of studies who have used and explained various methods - shadowing, interviews, observation types: participant observation, overt and covert observations, focus groups, action oriented research, group interviews.

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Why is it important?

The chapter helps us to fully understand how entrepreneurship is carried out. To be able to map these processes, it is essential to take also note of all resources employed. Often, entrepreneurs overlook the details of their daily needs for accomplishing their business activities, at home just as much as in a studio or office. The chapter also highlights the existence of social power dynamics and social influence within fieldwork research, which impact access to resources.

Perspectives

The majority of entrepreneurship research does not give sufficient attention to socio-material aspects, which I find are essential. Social relations and material aspects are an integral part of entrepreneurial practices, they are inseparable within and from entrepreneurship. The chapter gives guidance on how to capture these aspects within data gathering processes, in order to capture HOW entrepreneurship is carried out.

Dr Inge Hill IJBR Editorial Review Board
The Open University

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This page is a summary of: Capturing entrepreneurial practices socio-materiality with ethnography-based research, January 2022, Edward Elgar Publishing,
DOI: 10.4337/9781788976831.00024.
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