Using multiple paradigms to understand entrepreneurial motivations

This study illustrates how a multiple paradigm research methodology was used to understand more about one particular question about entrepreneurs---whether motivations for becoming an entrepreneur differ between women and men. It is often assumed that women and men are motivated to become entrepreneurs in similar ways. However, gender comparative studies of motivations for becoming an entrepreneur are relatively limited. This relatively compact body of literature on motivations for becoming an entrepreneur that offer a gender comparative approach is problematic for a number of reasons, some of which relate to their almost complete reliance on quantitative research methodologies. Thus, a multiple paradigm study offered a way of understanding more about the complex process of deciding to become an entrepreneur. To this end, both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed. We pose a number of contributions to theory development within the entrepreneurial motivation field, and also make suggestions to expand methodological stances within entrepreneurship research to make more use of multiple paradigm studies.