MethodsX (Jan 2021)

Validating the response surface method in entrepreneurship management research

  • Hsing-Er Lin,
  • Dan K. Hsu,
  • Michelle C. Hong,
  • Yongchuan Shi

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8
p. 101534

Abstract

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This study adapts an existing methodology in psychology to assess congruence relationships in entrepreneurship management. More specifically, it describes the application of a response surface method to examine the congruence effect of two predictor variables on an outcome variable. The study presents both visual and text presentations to serve as a guideline that can aid management researchers in adapting the method. The paper underscores three strengths of using the response surface method as a robust analytical approach to evaluating congruent and incongruent relationships. • The response surface method can be used to examine congruency and incongruency between variables in the field of management in general and entrepreneurship management in particular. • The results can be visualized as two- and three-dimensional graphs. • Compared with a traditional approach, the response surface method offers a clearer visual representation of a focal relationship.

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