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, José Ernesto Amorós, 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 and Mirela Xheneti

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 2026, vol. 50, issue 2, 355-397

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.

Keywords: optimal distinctiveness theory; inclusive entrepreneurship; marginalized entrepreneurs; heterogeneity in research; epistemological considerations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:entthe:v:50:y:2026:i:2:p:355-397

DOI: 10.1177/10422587251347048

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