Research proposal: who’s in control? self-directed and self-regulated learning in entrepreneurship training programmes

Abstract

Several authors in entrepreneurship have called for a multidisciplinary approach

in entrepreneurship research (Mishra & Zachary, 2010; Ireland & Webb, 2007). Having

a background in educational science and design, I intend to use a multidisciplinary

approach, combining insights from the fields of educational science and

entrepreneurship. There is more to gain from educational science than Kolb’s

experiential learning model.

The aim of this research project is to apply a design research approach to

develop a set of design principles or methodology for teaching entrepreneurship. The

design methodology will be based on the generic model for educational design by

Verhagen, Kuiper and Plomp (1999), consisting of an iterative process of analysis

(learner, context, needs), design, development, implementation and evaluation (ADDIE)

and will be embedded in the design paradigms as articulated by Visscher-Voerman &

Gustafsson (2004).

The analysis will consist of a combination of a literature study and data

collection on adult learning theory, entrepreneurial learning, pedagogy and cognition,

the entrepreneurial process and other yet to be defined units of analysis. This analysis

will result in a set of design criteria and two possible options to proceed from: (1) a full

design to validate all design criteria, (2) the validation of a selection of the design

criteria by conducting (quasi) experiments. Both options will include all phases of the

design process.

The outcome of this research project will be a set of validated design

principles/heuristics for teaching entrepreneurship, which will provide guidelines for

practitioners in entrepreneurship education. Once validated, these design criteria can

also be used to develop an evaluation tool to assess the quality of entrepreneurship

education. Apart from being practically relevant, the research will also have theoretical

implications. The integration of insights from educational science and entrepreneurship

may offer new perspectives and advance existing theories in both fields. The application

of a design research approach will also add to the body of knowledge of design

research, in both fields.