Critical Realism as a Framework for Engaged Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Research

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to stimulate debate and critical thinking about the relevance and effectiveness – especially for ‘non-core’ areas – of prevailing methodological approaches to entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE) research and policy development and to argue for the exploration of critical realism (CR) as a potential framework for researchers, practitioners and policymakers. I argue that prevailing theoretical and methodological frameworks are insufficient to enable researchers to adequately understand the dynamics of diverse EE or for policymakers to act appropriately on research findings. I posit CR as an alternative framework, providing a ‘lens’ through which researchers, policymakers and other ecosystem stakeholders can collaboratively explore the role of context and its interplay with agency. CR addresses the disadvantages associated with deterministic models of entrepreneurship and ‘Valley envy’ policy prescriptions, thus generating more meaningful insights for policy and practice, especially in relation to ‘non-core’ areas.

Citation

Johnson, S. (2023), "Critical Realism as a Framework for Engaged Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Research", Higgins, D., Brentnall, C., Jones, P. and McGowan, P. (Ed.) Nurturing Modalities of Inquiry in Entrepreneurship Research: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of Those Who Research (Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research, Vol. 17), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 43-56. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-724620230000017004