The effects of organizational sampling frame selection

This article extends the work of prior researchers by empirically investiga ting the general hypothesis that biases in sample sources are sufficient to significantly alter the results of empirical research. Data were gathered from firms listed in one or more of the following three sample sources: Dun and Bradstreet's Regional Directory-Houston, the Directory of Texas Manufa cturers, and the Texas State Sales Tax Files. A model of venture performanc e was adopted based largely on previous research. Results of the analysis i ndicate a strong presence of sample source bias in the data, despite the un iform manner in which the data were gathered and the variables constructed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.