This chapter discusses real-time research methodologies for studying entrepreneurial processes. It focuses on the use of self-reports like diaries and emails to gather data with a short time lapse between events and reflections. Using these methods provides close access to entrepreneurs' thoughts, feelings, and allows reduction of rationalization effects. The chapter also discusses withdrawing from the field for periods of time to analyze collected data with a fresh perspective. Finally, it addresses creating narrated chronologies of processes studied and issues around collaborating with research subjects and ensuring confidentiality while influencing the process as a researcher.

1. Catching It as It Happens Ethel Brundin Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods in Entrepreneurship Edward Elgar 2007 Page 291 to 296 Entrepreneurship Faculty, University of Tehran, Iran Mohammad JavadSabet Assistant Prof: Dr.Arabiun

2. This Chapter 6/6/2010 From a macro- towards a micro-perspective Real-time methodologies From micro to macro Methodological concerns

3. The step-by-step application of real-time methodologies 6/6/2010

4. Self-reports (Diaries and e-mails) Self-reporting is a method that has been used in other disciplines, such as medicine, psychology and psychotherapy, but is very limited within the field of entrepreneurship. Self-reports have, however, appeared occasionally within management research. These are an apt form of gathering empirical material in real-time research. With diary notes it is possible to come very close to an entrepreneurial process and obtain access to thoughts, feelings and reflections. Furthermore, the time lapse between when events are happening in the process to the moment they are reflected upon can be made very short and hence the rationalization effects are reduced. Advantages and Disadvantages 6/6/2010

5. Self-reports (Diaries and e-mails) Self-reporting is a method that has been used in other disciplines, such as medicine, psychology and psychotherapy, but is very limited within the field of entrepreneurship. Self-reports have, however, appeared occasionally within management research. These are an apt form of gathering empirical material in real-time research. With diary notes it is possible to come very close to an entrepreneurial process and obtain access to thoughts, feelings and reflections. Furthermore, the time lapse between when events are happening in the process to the moment they are reflected upon can be made very short and hence the rationalization effects are reduced. Advantages and Disadvantages 6/6/2010

6. Withdrawal tactics At three points I withdrew from the field. I felt a distinct ‘data saturation’ from being so tightly involved in the entrepreneurial processes and needed ‘time out’ to absorb the material I had collected and to ‘re-live’ the process. During these time-outs I also attended to other, completely different academic duties, to obtain a distance from the research. Often this is advantageous in a research process in order to approach the data with ‘new eyes’. 6/6/2010

7. Wrapping up entrepreneurial processes Narrated chronologies The main purpose of the narrated chronologies was to create and optimize understanding and to give the reader the means to learn from the story-telling. Illustrations of a micro-process phenomenon in real-time are also available. 6/6/2010

8. From micro to macro The interpretation that takes place applying real-time methodologies is a starting point for the theorizing process. Generalization. Naturally, this study cannot be generalized in the traditional sense of the word. However, it is useful for a local theory on the micro-level that can help build theory on the macro-level and hence constitutes a piece of puzzle in order ‘to begin to piece [the puzzle] together’ and relate it to an outcome. 6/6/2010

9. Methodological concerns Collaboration with managers – and other organizational members – is a way to ensure that researchers bring up interesting and relevant research issues. It is beneficial to both parties, but there are some perceived disadvantages as well. It is a delicate task in an ongoing process to ask people to stop and reflect on what is going on. Telling them about the purpose or not. Building confidence. Confidentiality. The researcher influences on the process of research. Being ‘in charge’ of a research project is always a matter of subjectivity. To concentrate on a micro-level is not without pitfalls. Consider local effects. The setting here is the Swedish context. 6/6/2010

10. The End 6/6/2010