Research on entrepreneurial alertness - Sampling, measurement, and theoretical issues

In taking an economic and behavioral approach, Kaish and Gilad (1991) recently tested Kirzner's (1973) theory of alertness which asserts that entrepreneurs are more alert to new opportunities and use information differently. Because of the lack of generalizable samples and the exploratory nature of the Kaish and Gilad study, this research replicated and further developed some of the scales originally developed by them. The results indicate that little empirical support exists for this theoretical framework, but the measures of entrepreneurial alertness need further development. Empirical and theoretical implications are discussed along with the roles of exploratory and replication research in a vibrant discipline like entrepreneurship.