dissertation in pdf-format - Aalto-yliopisto
dissertation in pdf-format - Aalto-yliopisto
dissertation in pdf-format - Aalto-yliopisto
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3 Research methodology<br />
3.1 Methodology applied <strong>in</strong> the studies<br />
The purpose of the presented research was to obta<strong>in</strong> holistic, <strong>in</strong>-depth<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g of the characteristics of <strong>in</strong>novative, high growth and highly<br />
successful SMEs, us<strong>in</strong>g a mixed approach, <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g both qualitative and<br />
quantitative analysis of the data. This methodological choice is <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with<br />
recent theories of knowledge production and understand<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />
entrepreneurship, <strong>in</strong>novation and performance of bus<strong>in</strong>esses. Leitch et al.<br />
(2010) po<strong>in</strong>ted out that entrepreneurial actions and bus<strong>in</strong>ess performance<br />
are complex phenomena that require rich, elaborate and wide analysis.<br />
Hence, methodological heterogeneity is required to address the complexity<br />
and capture a richer body of knowledge and understand<strong>in</strong>g of high<br />
performance entrepreneurship (Bygrave, 2006; Leitch et al., 2010).<br />
Creswell (2003) stated that the <strong>in</strong>itiat<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts of knowledge claims are<br />
the paradigms, philosophical assumptions, epistemologies, ontologies and<br />
research methodologies held, conceived or made by researchers when they<br />
start a project. Philosophically, researchers make claims about what<br />
knowledge is (ontology), how we know it (epistemology), the <strong>in</strong>corporated<br />
values (axiology) and the k<strong>in</strong>ds of processes or opportunities available for<br />
study<strong>in</strong>g it (methodology). However, <strong>in</strong> discussion of mixed methods<br />
research, epistemological and ontological issues have been marg<strong>in</strong>alized to<br />
a significant degree as pragmatism has emerged as a major orientation for<br />
comb<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g qualitative and quantitative research (Bryman, 2007).<br />
The basic assumptions about knowledge claims underly<strong>in</strong>g this<br />
<strong>dissertation</strong> (and the studies it is based upon) are rooted <strong>in</strong> pragmatism.<br />
Other philosophical bases for the knowledge claims that could have been<br />
adopted <strong>in</strong>clude post-positivism, constructivism or advocacy/participatory<br />
approaches. Post-positivism refers to a view of research that emerged<br />
follow<strong>in</strong>g critiques of positivism, challeng<strong>in</strong>g the traditional notion of<br />
absolute truth of knowledge and recogniz<strong>in</strong>g that we cannot be positive<br />
(absolutely certa<strong>in</strong>) about our knowledge claims, especially when study<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the behaviour and actions of humans, because of our <strong>in</strong>herent biases.<br />
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