Bayesian methods in family business research

•Bayesian methods constitute an alternative to null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) in family business research.•This article briefly reviews the concept of Bayesian methods.•Bayesian methods are well suited to take into account the significant heterogeneity that exists within the population of family firms.•The article's focus is on regression models.

Bayesian methods constitute an alternative to null hypothesis significance testing (NHST). This article briefly reviews the concept of Bayesian methods, describes their differences from NHST, and discusses the potential of Bayesian methods to advance family business research and practice. We argue that Bayesian methods are well suited to account for the significant heterogeneity that exists in the population of family firms. The article closes with a short guide to using Bayesian methods and reporting their results in the context of research on family businesses. The article's focus is on regression models.