Entrepreneurial learning research: a positivist tradition?

Abstract

Abstract This article aims to systematically review the literature on Entrepreneurial Learning, analyzing the elements of studies published on the subject over time, with special emphasis on methodological approaches employed in empirical research. The motivation of the study is that this literature field is still fragmented. Moreover, previous reviews on the theme have not shed sufficient light on the methodological aspects of the research. Data were obtained through the Scopus database, and 356 articles were mapped with the support of VOSviewer software, revealing the evolution in the number of publications, cross-country relationships, and co-citation networks, among other metrics. An in-depth analysis of 38 articles published in the top five journals revealed the predominance of studies carried out in the European context, with entrepreneurs of technological companies, and at the individual level of analysis. Furthermore, a tradition of positivist studies was identified.