The challenge of measuring passion in entrepreneurship: a systematic literature review

Purpose This study aims to describe the different ways of measuring passion in entrepreneurship and its implications for the entrepreneurship field. Through a systematic literature review that provides a historical perspective on prior work measuring passion in entrepreneurship, this study clarifies that the way passion is measured can impact both the understanding and the application of this concept in entrepreneurial contexts. Design/methodology/approach Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations, this study analyzed a total of 220 articles, including 198 quantitative and 22 qualitative studies retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The articles were categorized, classified deductively and organized according to the three main measurement approaches of passion in entrepreneurship: the dualistic model of passion, the stages of the entrepreneurial process and identity, and perceived passion. Findings The search yielded studies using one of the three scales for measuring passion, as well as others that used combined measures. The results describe the antecedents, mediators, moderators and outcomes related to passion in entrepreneurship. In addition, this study offers an historical perspective on the measurement of passion in entrepreneurship that is organized in three waves. Originality/value This study offers a detailed analysis of the various ways of measuring passion in the field of entrepreneurship, providing a broad view of the subject. This review presents a historical perspective on the operationalization of passion in entrepreneurship research and offers suggestions to guide future research.