Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice 2026

Measuring Socioemotional Wealth Using Content Analysis: A SEWi-Based Approach

Shane W. Reid¹; Chelsea Sherlock²; Erik Markin²; R. Gabrielle Swab³

¹ Texas State University · ² Mississippi State University · ³ Georgia Southern University

Abstract

Socioemotional wealth (SEW) is a foundational construct in family business research; however, its empirical measurement remains limited by reliance on proxy variables and survey data. This study addresses these challenges by developing a computer-aided text analysis method to measure SEW using the SEWi framework. Our approach enables direct, scalable, and multidimensional assessment of SEW through organizational narratives. We detail the development and validation of the measure, demonstrating its reliability and construct validity. This method expands the methodological toolkit for family business scholars and enhances SEW measurement precision, offering a pragmatic solution for broader, comparative, and longitudinal research.

DOI

10.1177/10422587261444758

Sources

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APA 7 MLA 9 Chicago (author–date) Harvard Elsevier Harvard (JFE, JBF…) The Accounting Review Academy of Management American Marketing Association INFORMS (Management Science) Copy citation Copied ✓