Scientific Research in Information Systems A Beginner's Guide

168 Pages·2014·3.437 MB·English

by  Recker, Jan

Progress in IS
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Jan Recker
Scientific Research
in Information Systems
A Beginner’s Guide
JanRecker
SchoolofInformationSystems
QueenslandUniversityofTechnology
Brisbane,QLD
Queensland
Australia
ISBN978-3-642-30047-9 ISBN978-3-642-30048-6(eBook)
DOI10.1007/978-3-642-30048-6
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Preface
This book is designed to introduce doctoral and other higher-degree research
students to the process of scientific research in the fields of Information Systems
as well as in Information Technology, Business Process Management and other
relateddisciplinesinthesocialsciences.InformationSystemsistheresearchfield
concentrating on the impact of information technology in use by individuals and
organisations alike, and is a fundamental element in the understanding of current
andfuturebusiness,management,societalandindividualpractices.
Thisbookisbasedontheauthor’sexperienceininformationsystemsresearch,
research-level teaching and postgraduate student supervision at Queensland Uni-
versity of Technology, the leading institute for information systems research in
Australia.Beingbasedontheseexperiences,thebookisalsopositionedrelativeto
theworldviewandexperientialaccountsbytheauthor.Inconsequence,whilemost
aspects of the book relate to general experiences, challenges and processes in
scientific research in general, it is mostly influenced by the domain and scientific
paradigminwhichtheauthorconductshisresearch.
This book is not meant to replace but rather to complement existing textbooks
forresearchstudentsandscholars.Unlikeothertextbooks,thisbookisnotprimar-
ilyaboutresearchmethodsbutinsteadcoverstheentireresearchprocessfromstart
tofinish.Itplacesparticularemphasisonunderstandingcognitiveandbehavioural
aspects such as motivational components, various modes of inquiry in scholarly
conduct, theorising, planning of research, as well as publication plans, and the
ethicalchallengesofbecomingaresearcher.
Thebookismeanttoguideresearchstudentsintheirprocessoflearningthelife
ofaresearcher.Indoingso,itprovidesanunderstandingoftheessentialelements,
conceptsandchallengesofthejourneyofresearchstudies.Itprovidesagatewayfor
the student to inquire deeper about each element covered (such as a particular
researchmethod)bydirectingthemtotheappropriateresources.
The book is designed to be comprehensive and broad but also succinct and
compact. It focuses on the key principles and challenges (namely, the core of
the research process) without delving into the many associated challenges, exce-
ptionsandfurtherissues.Inessence,thebookismeanttoguidebeginningdoctoral
v
vi Preface
studentsintheir questtodoscholarlyworkandprovidesaneasy andcomprehen-
sive introduction that can assist them in developing their own answers and
strategiesoverthecourseoftheirstudies.
Structure
Thisbookisorganisedintosevenchapters,whichspanthreeparts:
Part 1: Basic Principles of Research introduces to the reader the journey and
challenges of pursuing a research degree in information systems. Motivational
components are discussed as well as key underlying principles drawn from the
paradigms of the scientific method. It introduces the vocabulary of research and
lays the foundation for reflecting upon research in Information Systems, be it the
students’ownresearchortheonestheyencounter.
Part 2: Conducting Research dissects the research process in information
systems as a science into the phases of planning, designing and executing. Each
ofthesephasesthenreceivesdueattentionintermsofplanningtheresearchdesign,
developing and appropriating theory in research and executing relevant research
methods.Indoingso,thispartofthebookaspirestogiveageneralprocessmodel
applicabletoalldoctoralstudentsininformationsystems,andcontainsguidelines
thatcanhelpintacklingchallengesalongtheway.
Part3:PublishingResearchreflectsupontheoutcomesoftheresearchprocess
and provides practical suggestions for managing these outcomes. Publication
strategies and writing tactics are the focus of this part alongside ethical
considerations pertaining to research in terms of conduct and publication. It also
offersaclosingreflectiononthekeyprocessesandoutcomesofscholarlywork.
Acknowledgements
Therehavebeenmanypeoplethatinfluencedmyworkandmoregenerallymylife
insignificantways.Certainlytoomanytomentionhere,andifIdidIwouldonly–
inanundeliberateway–omitsomeofthem,soIwon’tevenstart.
Idowanttomentionanumberofpeople.Mygratitudeisowedtomycolleagues
inmydepartment,especiallyourHeadofSchool,ProfessorMichaelRosemann,for
being a mentor and advisor, a critic and a friend – and for keeping my back free
whileIinvestedmytimeintothisbook.
MyownthinkingismuchinspiredbytheacademicscholarsthatIworkwithand
who I hold in highest esteem for their success, professionalism, dedication and
enthusiasm. I am a much better researcher than I could have ever hoped to be
becauseIwasallowedtoworkwithpeoplesuchasPeterGreen,MartaIndulska,Jan
Mendling,HajoReijers,JanvomBrocke,StefanSeidel,MichaelzurMuehlen,Guy
Preface vii
GableandmanyotheresteemedscholarsthatIhavemetandworkedwithoverthe
years.IoweagreatdealofadviceandexperiencesthatIofferinthisbookfromthe
knowledgethatthey,andotherswithinandoutsideacademia,werewillingtoshare
withme.
This book is also improved because of professional editing support that
I received through manuscript editing services provided by Academic Research,
Writing,andEditingServicesLtd.,Pittsburgh,USA.
Ialsobelieve thatacknowledgement isduetothosethatare inmylife without
crossingtheboundariesofwork–friendswhosharetheirlifeexperienceswithme
andwhoarehappytoindulgeinmine.IknowthattheyknowthatIamreferringto
them at this stage, so be thanked for making my life a wonderful and joyous
experience.
Finally, my thoughts are with my family, my parents and sisters, my grand-
mother and all other members. Being an academic has meant for me physical
separationbuthasalsohelpedmelearnthevalueinhavingthesewonderfulpeople
asmyfamily,andenjoyingthepreciousmomentswehavetogetherasmuchandas
oftenaspossible.
Laura,youareinspiringmeallthetimetobethebestpersonthatIcanpossibly
be,andmuchmorethanthat.YouaremyreasontogooutanddothebestIcan–
andmoreimportantly,tocomehome.
June2012 JanRecker
.
Contents
PartI BasicPrinciplesofResearch
1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.1 UnderstandingYourMotivation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 ThePh.D.Challenge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 WhatThisBookIsAbout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.4 FurtherReading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2 InformationSystemsResearchasaScience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.1 PrinciplesofScientificInquiry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2 TheScientificMethod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.3 EssentialConceptsinInformationSystemsResearch. . . . . . . . . . 18
2.4 FurtherReading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
PartII ConductingResearch
3 TheResearchProcess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3.1 ResearchQuestions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3.1.1 Motivation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
3.1.2 SpecificationofProblemStatement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
3.1.3 Justification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
3.2 ResearchDesign. .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. 30
3.2.1 Observation,Induction,andDeduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3.2.2 SelectingaResearchDesign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
3.3 ResearchMethodology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3.4 TheRoleofLiteratureintheResearchProcess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3.5 FurtherReading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4 Theorising. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . 45
4.1 WhatIsTheory?. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 45
4.1.1 DefinitionofTheory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
4.1.2 BuildingBlocksofTheory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
ix
x Contents
4.1.3 NomologicalNets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
4.2 TypesofTheory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
4.3 TheorisingasaProcess. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 57
4.3.1 AnExample. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
4.3.2 PracticalSuggestionstoTheorising. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
4.4 FurtherReading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
5 ResearchMethods. . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. 65
5.1 QuantitativeMethods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
5.1.1 TheFocusonMeasurement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
5.1.2 Reliability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
5.1.3 Validity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
5.1.4 MeasurementDevelopment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
5.1.5 QuantitativeMethodProcedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
5.1.6 SurveyResearch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
5.1.7 ExperimentalResearch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
5.2 QualitativeMethods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
5.2.1 DataCollectionTechniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
5.2.2 DataAnalysisTechniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
5.2.3 CaseStudy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
5.2.4 ActionResearch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
5.2.5 GroundedTheory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
5.3 MixedMethodsandDesignScienceMethods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
5.3.1 MixedMethods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
5.3.2 DesignScienceMethods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
5.4 FurtherReading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
PartIII PublishingResearch
6 WritingISResearchArticles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
6.1 Strategising. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
6.1.1 ThePublishingProcess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
6.1.2 KeyPublishingDecisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
6.1.3 Co-authorship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
6.1.4 ThePre-submissionLifecycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
6.2 StructureandContents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
6.2.1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
6.2.2 Background.. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. 129
6.2.3 ResearchModel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
6.2.4 ResearchMethod. .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . 131
6.2.5 Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
6.2.6 Discussion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
6.2.7 Implications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
6.2.8 Conclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
6.2.9 Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135