0EDS-1.DOC/DRAFT #6
November 18, 1996
CODEBOOK FOR THE ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT STUDY
Research Design and Data Collection
Information for the first wave of the study was collected between June, 1990 and February, 1991, in a two phase approach. Participants were located in the Research Triangle area, a geographic region in the middle of North Carolina formed by the cities of Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham. We wanted to study individuals in the early stages of organizational formation, as well as established organizations with a transaction history, and so in an exploratory phase of our project we located voluntary and non-profit organizations of interest to entrepreneurs. Organizations differed in sex composition, purpose, and membership interests, but they all focused on entrepreneurial or business activity: (1) the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) included both entrepreneurs and service providers; (2) six networking organizations, all of which included both entrepreneurs and employees, and questionnaires were given to members of these networking organizations during their meetings; (3) participants at Wake Tech Small Business Center classes, including entrepreneurs in very early stages of business start-up; and (4) the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), which is restricted to women entrepreneurs. We added another sub-sample, randomly selected from business start-ups, to use as a reference. This sample was selected from new businesses that filed registration forms in Wake County, indicating their intention to start a business.
Table 1 provides information on questionnaire returns and interview rates of the organizations sampled.
Table 1. Sample Size and Response Rates
Time 1 / Time 2(1990 - 1991) / (1992)
Questionnaire / Follow-Up
Phone
Interviews / Question-naire / Questionnaire and
Phone Interview
Sample Source / Number
Distributed / Percent
Returned / Percent of
Return
Completing
Interview / Number
Mailed / Fully
Completed / Partially
Completed / Combined
Completion
CED members / 339 / 76% / 82% / 250 / 53% / 37% / 90%
Networking organiza-
tion members / 67 / 78% / 83% / 49 / 43% / 43% / 86%
Wake Tech students / 78 / 68% / 79% / 52 / 25% / 58% / 83%
Wake business sample / 150 / 41% / 64% / 61 / 39% / 45% / 84%
NAWBO sample / 25 / 76% / 84% / 19 / 63% / 32% / 95%
Total Percent / -- / 67% / 80% / -- / 64% / 24% / 88%
Total Number / 659 / 444* / 353 / 431* / 203 / 177 / 380
*Note: The difference between the 444 questionnaires returned at Time 1 and the 431 respondents followed up at Time 2 is due to people who refused to participate further at the end of Time 1 or who were lost to the sample during interviewing for Time 1 for other reasons.
Our decision to use multiple sub-samples was based on a concern that using any one sample source narrowed the range of people and businesses covered due to selective recruitment. Reducing the heterogeneity of a sample increases the risk of introducing an unknown selection bias that can affect the validity of the results. Taking all the sub-samples together, 659 questionnaires were distributed, with 444 returned in a usable form, for a response rate of 67 percent. Response rates across the sub-samples ranged from 41 percent to 78 percent.
We collected the initial (Time 1) data in two phases. Phase I was a short questionnaire, which could be completed in about five minutes. Phase II involved in-depth, 30-45 minute telephone interviews that included structured and work open-ended questions. We collected the time 1 questionnaires and conducted interviews during a nine month period in 1990 and 1991. People who returned questionnaires were called for a telephone interview, unless they indicated on the questionnaire that they were unwilling to participate further in the research. We completed interviews with 353 respondents, yielding completed interviews for 54 percent of those who received questionnaires and 80 percent of those who returned their questionnaires. The telephone interviews averaged 30 to 45 minutes.
A second wave of data was collected in 1992, and details of that study are in another codebook.
First Wave of Data Collection: Study design
Var N Variable Description: Question and codes
Name
ID Identification number
Numbered beginning with 2 - last number 658
GROUP Group or organizational affiliation:
52 NET Networking organizations
259 CED Council for Entrepreneurial Development
53 WAKE Wake Tech Small Business Center students
61 BUS Sample of business registered at courthouse
19 NAWBO National Association of Women Business Owners
DATE Date questionnaire distributed (yr/mo/da)
Dates range from 90/06/07 to 90/12/11
RECD Date questionnaire returned (yr/mo/da)
Dates range from 90/06/07 to 91/02/17
INTER Date of interview (yr/mo/da)
Dates range from 90/06/15 to 91/02/27
CALLS Number of contacts made
Range: 1-14
Mean: 3.57
S.D.: 2.14
SCHED Interview scheduled:
115 0 = No
237 1 = Yes
92 . = Missing
REFUSE Phone interview was not completed because:
(NOTE: 90 people completed the mail questionnaire but
not the phone interview)
13 1 No call specified on the questionnaire
24 2 Refused after a phone contact
10 3 Moved
10 4 Long distance phone number
7 5 Blank questionnaire or 2/3 or more of missing data
6 6 No name specified or no telephone number provided
20 7 Failed; at least 10 attempts made to contact the respondent
354 . Missing (i.e., completed interview)
I. Business Contacts - mailed questionnaire
please think of the person you could contact if you needed a particular type of help.
"Do you know someone you could go to for:"
Q1 Legal assistance in business matters?
41 0 = No
388 1 = Yes
15 . = Missing
Q2 Financial or accounting assistance (such as taxes, records, capital flow)?
28 0 = No
402 1 = Yes
14 . = Missing
Q3 Assistance in obtaining business loans or investors?
94 0 = No
336 1 = Yes
14 . = Missing
Q4 Assistance in locating business property?
94 0 = No
333 1 = Yes
17 . = Missing
"Do you know someone you could go to who:"
Q5 Has several years of experience in your line of business?
116 0 = No
313 1 = Yes
15 . = Missing
Q6 Is a supplier or vendor in your line of business?
96 0 = No
317 1 = Yes
31 . = Missing
From time to time, most people discuss important business matters or business plans with other people. Looking back over the past month:
NETNUM Please estimate the number of people with whom you have discussed aspects of starting a new business or operating your current business [over the last month]
Range from 0-200; n/a coded 0; mid-point used if range is given; if > # is given, # is coded; mean: 8.75; S.D. 16.91.
Range: 0-200
Mean: 8.75
S.D.: 16.91
In a typical week, how many hours do you spend:
Developing contacts (meeting new people) with whom you can discuss business matters?
Maintaining contacts (talking to people you already know) about business matters?
HRSDEV Hours per week spent developing contacts
Range from 0 -70; n/a coded 0; mid-point used if range is given; if > # is given, # is coded; mean: 5.70; S.D. 8.44.
Range: 0-70
Mean: 5.70
S.D.: 8.44
HRSMAN Hours per week spent maintaining contacts
Range from 0- 50; n/a coded 0; mid-point used if range is given; if > # is given, # is coded; mean: 7.46; S.D. 8.10.
Range: 0-50
Mean: 7.46
S.D.: 8.10
II. Organizational Background - mailed questionnaire
"Are you a member of any of the following organizations?" (Circle answer)
Q10 Civic organizations (such as Rotary, Optimist, Jaycees)
348 0 = No
82 1 = Yes
14 . = Missing
Q11 Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED)
177 0 = No
254 1 = Yes
13 . = Missing
Q12 Business organizations (such as Chamber of Commerce, Business and Professional Women, National Association of Women Business Owners)
195 0 = No
236 1 = Yes
13 . = Missing
Q13 Networking organizations (such as Connections, Networkers, Leads, Triangle Referrals)
332 0 = No
98 1 = Yes
14 . = Missing
Q14 Have you taken business related short courses or seminars?
110 0 = No (IF NO, GO TO Q16)
317 1 = Yes (IF YES, GO TO Q15)
17 . = Missing
Q15 (If Yes) Were these offered by the Small Business Centers at Wake Tech or Durham Tech?
213 0 = No
102 1 = Yes
129 . = Missing (NO TO Q14)
Q16 Have you taken a business related course for credit from a college or university?
206 0 = No (GO TO RUN)
219 1 = Yes (IF YES, GO TO Q17)
19 . = Missing
Q17 (If Yes to Q16) Do you have a business related degree from a college or university?
90 0 = No
129 1 = Yes (IF YES, GO TO Q18)
225 . = Missing (NO TO Q16)
Q18 (If Yes to Q17) What is the highest business related degree you have earned?
5 1 Associates degree in business
1 2 Minor in business
24 3 Bachelor's degree unspecified
29 4 Bachelor's degree in business administration
9 5 Master's degree in accounting, economics, management, or public health management
50 6 MBA
1 7 Doctorate in business administration
4 8 Law
321 . Missing (NO TO Q17)
III. Business Status - mailed questionnaire
Please answer the questions in the box (or boxes) that
match your business status.
RUN I am currently running a business:
*SHOULD HAVE SAID “DO YOU RUN A BUSINESS THAT YOU OWN?”
120 0 = No (GO TO START AND MAKE MISSING
DATA OF NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS)
320 1 = Yes (GO TO Q19)
4 . = Missing
Q19C What does your company do? (products and services)
NOTE: SIC code to 3 digits, with one decimal place
10 MANUFACTURING, HIGH TECH
9 10.1 ELECTRONICS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS
3 10.2 CHEMICAL PROCESSING
8 10.3 MEDICAL OR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT
15 MANUFACTURING, LOW TECH
6 15.1 LIGHT PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
4 15.2 HEAVY PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
20 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
14 20.35 TO 28.35 ALL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
30 COMPUTER RELATED
4 30.1 GENERAL CONSULTING AND TRAINING
20 30.2 PROGRAMING, SYSTEM DESIGN AND SOFTWARE CONSULTING
6 30.5 COMPUTER SALES AND SERVICE
1 30.6 [???Description Needed???]
10 30.8 SPECIALIZED COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
40 BUSINESS SERVICES
11 40.1 LEGAL SERVICES
17 40.2 ACCOUNTING AND TAX SERVICES
4 40.3 CLERICAL, BOOKKEEPING, DATA ENTRY, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
12 40.4 PRINTING AND GRAPHIC SERVICES
6 40.5 ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
6 40.6 MARKETING AND DIRECT MAIL
5 40.7 TECHNICAL WRITING, EDITING, RESEARCH DESIGN
9 40.9 OTHER BUSINESS SERVICES
42 CONSULTING SERVICES
8 42.0 GENERAL OR UNSPECIFIED CONSULTING
4 42.1 SEMINARS, MOTIVATIONAL, HUMAN RESOURCES, SALES, MARKETING
14 42.3 TECHNICAL, ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING CONSULTANTS
12 42.4 FINANCIAL CONSULTING
15 42.7 MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTANTS
6 42.9 OTHER SPECIALIZED CONSULTING
43 CONSUMER AND RETAIL SERVICES
7 43.1 FOOD SERVICES
17 43.2 RETAIL SERVICES REQUIRING FIXED LOCATION
13 43.3 RETAIL SERVICES NOT REQUIRING SPECIALIZED OR SEPARATE FIXED LOCATION
19 43.5 CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
5 43.6 HEALTH CARE SERVICES
50 REAL ESTATE
9 50.1 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
8 50.2 RESIDENTIAL OR UNSPECIFIED REAL ESTATE
60 RETAIL SALES
11 60.1 LARGE FIXED SPACE REQUIREMENTS OR SHOWROOM SPACE REQUIRED
15 60.2 LIMITED FIXED SPACE REQUIREMENTS; OFFICE RATHER THAN SHOWROOM SPACE
88 DON'T KNOW
99 GOVERNMENT OR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
126 . Missing
Q19SICD Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) division codes:
1 A Agriculture
1 B Mining
15 C Construction
37 D Manufacturing
7 E Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas and Sanitation
12 F Wholesale Trade
29 G Retail Trade
29 H Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
187 I Services
0 J Public Administration
126 . Missing
Q19SIC2 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code modified so that two digit code appears as an integer; tens and hundreds place contains the 3rd and 4th digits, where information is available. [Standard four digit code is obtained by multiplying by 100.] (Decimal point after first two digits.)
00 indicates insufficient information available to classify
How many people does your business employ, other than
yourself?
____ Full-time employees
____ Part-time employees
How many employees, other than yourself, are family
members?
____ Full-time employees
____ Part-time employees
Q20A Number of full-time employees
Range: 0-330
Mean: 9.45
S.D.: 29.05
Q20B Number of part-time employees
Range: 0-150
Mean: 2.73
S.D.: 11.34
Q21A Number of family members employed full-time
Range: 0-7
Mean: .29
S.D.: .75
Q21B Number of family members employed part-time
Range: 0-3
Mean: .20
S.D.: .50
How long have you owned your current business?
Q22 Length of ownership of business:
Number of years; months as tenths of a year
Range: .1-36
Mean: 4.73
S.D.: 5.16
Q23 Is this your first business?
108 0 = No
212 1 = Yes
124 . = Missing (NO TO RUN)
Q24 Is your business location in your home?
209 0 = No
111 1 = Yes
124 . = Missing (NO TO RUN)
Q25 Did you start this business?
44 0 = No
276 1 = Yes
124 . = Missing (NO TO RUN)
Q26 Are you employed in addition to running your business?
261 0 = No
58 1 = Yes
125 . = Missing (NO TO RUN)
Q27 Has your business grown significantly since it started?
66 0 = No
249 1 = Yes
129 . = Missing (NO TO RUN)
Q28 Business form: Is your business a (check one):
100 1 SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
29 2 PARTNERSHIP
190 3 CORPORATION
125 . Missing
Q29 Would you describe the current financial performance of your business as (check one):
165 1 PROFITABLE
87 2 BREAKEVEN
68 3 LOSS
124 . Missing
What is the name and address of your business?
______
______
If you are starting, or thinking about starting, another business, please continue at B on the next page.
If you have no plans to start another business, please turn the page and continue at IV. BUSINESS PLANS [Q41].
B. I am starting, or thinking about starting, a business (or another business) in the next year or two.
____ Yes ____ No (Go to C below)