Studying Information Technology in Organizations

Research Approaches and Assumptions

Bibliographic Data

ID20044552
AuthorsWanda J Orlikowski (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Jack J Baroudi (University of Delaware)
Year2002
Pages50-77
Publication date2002-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueQualitative research in information systems (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherSAGE Publications, Ltd (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.4135/9781849209687.n4
OpenAlexW2128992662
ISBN9781849209687
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited16

We examined 155 information systems research articles published from 1983 to 1988 and found that although this research is not rooted in a single overarching theoretical perspective, it does exhibit a single set of philosophical assumptions regarding the nature of the phenomena studied by information systems researchers, and what constitutes valid knowledge about those phenomena. We believe that a single research perspective for studying information systems phenomena is unnecessarily restrictive, and argue that there exist other philosophical assumptions that can inform studies of the relationships between information technology, people, and organizations. In this paper, we present two additional research philosophies for consideration-the interpretive and the critical-and for each we provide empirical examples to illustrate how they are used. We conclude by suggesting that much can be gained if a plurality of research perspectives is effectively employed to investigate information systems phenomena. Philosophical assumptions—Research approaches—Positivist research—Interpretivist research—Critical research

Business · Information technology · Knowledge management · Management science · Political science · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Computer Science · Engineering · Information Systems Theories and Implementation · Knowledge Management and Sharing · Law

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