How Should We Study Heterogeneity in Entrepreneurship? Moving the Field to an Inclusive Approach

Rosanna Garcia; Rachel M. B. Atkins; Ezekiel Bonillas; Candida Brush; William B. Gartner; Friederike Welter; Haya Al-Dajani; AMOROS ESPINOZA, JOSÉ ERNESTO; Karin Berglund; Anne de Bruin; Pascal Dey; Sarah Dodd; Laura Galloway; Diana M. Hechavarria; Debora Jackson; Jan Keim; Alexander Lewis; Jessica Lindbergh; Cathy Yang Liu; Christina Lubinski

doi:10.1177/10422587251347048

How Should We Study Heterogeneity in Entrepreneurship? Moving the Field to an Inclusive Approach

Journal

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice

ISSN

1042-2587

Date Issued

2025-10-22

Author(s)

Rosanna Garcia

Rachel M. B. Atkins

Ezekiel Bonillas

Candida Brush

William B. Gartner

Friederike Welter

Haya Al-Dajani

AMOROS ESPINOZA, JOSÉ ERNESTO

Facultad de Economía y Negocios

Karin Berglund

Anne de Bruin

Pascal Dey

Sarah Dodd

Laura Galloway

Diana M. Hechavarria

Debora Jackson

Jan Keim

Alexander Lewis

Jessica Lindbergh

Cathy Yang Liu

Christina Lubinski

Anil Nair

Arielle Newman

Jay O’Toole

Gregory Price

Miruna Radu-Lefebvre

Monder Ram OBE

Angela Randolph

Eunki Ro

Birgitta Schwartz

Tabitha Sindani

Florence Villeséche

R. Daniel Wadhwani

Anna Wettermark

Mirela Xheneti

Type

journal-article

DOI

10.1177/10422587251347048

URL

https://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11606

Abstract

Entrepreneurship scholarship faces challenges related to diverse populations, striving to balance inclusivity with the recognition of unique entrepreneurial identities. Applying optimal distinctiveness theory, we explore the relationship between belongingness and uniqueness in entrepreneurship research. Catalyzed by Bakker and McMullen’s 2023 article on inclusivity in entrepreneurship, we utilized natural language processing to examine responses about inclusive entrepreneurship from 29 scholars dedicated to marginalized populations. Findings suggest that employing varied research methods and integrating structural and epistemological considerations can enhance our understanding of entrepreneurial heterogeneity. We advocate for entrepreneurship research that values individual experiences while promoting inclusive practices, highlighting the need for evolving scholarly paradigms to reflect entrepreneurial differences.