A holistic literature review on entrepreneurial Intention: A scientometric approach

Abstract

This paper reveals the scientific substrate underlying the literature on entrepreneurial intention (EI) tracking its diachronic evolution. It reviews the literature on EI from a holistic view over nearly 50 years (1970–2021), complementing previous reviews on this topic. We adopt a scientometric approach using bibliographic coupling, co-citation, and thematic strategic maps, enabling us to present the changing morphology of EI research over the years. Supported by VOSviewer and Bibliometrix, we analysed almost 2,000 documents, revealing how research on career choice, education, social psychology, and entrepreneurship have supported each other in developing this topic. The horizon for improving EI knowledge is still open. This paper invites researchers to add new issues to the research front and to break the ice of the intellectual base of this research field by contributing new research frameworks as well as offering ongoing improvements in psycho-social approaches to the individual.