A review of research methodologies in private equity: 2005-2011

Abstract

The field of private equity is still very young, and research on the topic is in its infancy. Despite a considerable amount of research in the recent past, so far, there has been no review of research methodology in the field of private equity. This article examines the state of private equity research in the last seven years from the standpoint of existing methodologies. The state of research is assessed by examining the body of literature for research design, research topics, strategies, number of hypothesis testing studies, research methods, data analysis techniques, data sources, regions of focus, and countries of authors. Based on the results of this review, the article provides reflections on the evolution of private equity research over the last seven years and discusses opportunities for future research.