Orlikowski & Baroudini: Studying Information Technology in Orgaizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions Presentation for INF9200 by Lasse Berntzen

What research philosophies are used within IS research? Methodology: Examined 155 research papers from IS journals from 1983 to 1988 Looked for dominant perspective Used three of Culnan’s five topic oriented research categories (not foundation and curriculum)

Culnan’s five topic-oriented research categories: –Organizational approaches –Individual approaches –IS management

Research design Time frame of study Epistemology

Articles classified by category

Research design

Epistemology Epistemology: How knowledge is created Chua’s (1986) classification of research epistemologies: –Postivist studies (96,8%) –Interpretitive studies (3,2%) –Critical studies (0%) Research method is independent of underlying epistemology. E.g. case studies may be performed from a positivist, interpretive or critical approach

Dominance? Positivist approach is clearly dominant No topic area or theory dominates IS research Assumptions about acceptable IS research: –Survey or laboratory oriented –Investigates phenomena with a single cross- section or a slice of time

Categorization Goal: To increase awareness of different research philosophies. What every IS researcher should know. Be aware: I have read the article several times, but I still feel like a novice

Different research philosophies The Positivist Philosophy of IS Research The Interpretative Philosophy of IS Research The Critical Philosophy of IS Research Beliefs about Physical and Social Reality Ontology Human Rationality Social Relations Objective physical and social world existing independent of humans “Observable” “Measurable” Human rationality Reality is social product Social actors are important part Social world is made by humans through action and interactions Social reality is historically constituted Totality, things can not be treated as isolated elements Beliefs about Knowledge Epistemology Methodology Empirical testablility Universal laws Explanation-prediction- control Understanding social processes involves getting inside the world of those generating it “Field studies” Interpretation is not enough. Material conditions of domination need also to be critiqued Beliefs about the Relationship between Theory and Practice Technical “Value-free” “Value judgement” Weak and strong constructionist view “Value judgement” Actively change, transform Criticism: Compromised ideals, not always usable for social research

Interpretative Research Philosophy Empirical Example Large consulting firm, CASE-tools Study of teams Ethnographic techniques Theoretical framework No structured instrumentation, no statistical inference testing to analyze data Is understanding correct (humans can be misleading) Remember to tell my own experiences

Critical Research Philosphy Emipirical Example Smith (1988) Impact of EPOS on retail workers –Labor process –Relationship between labor and management Eight + eight retail firms No formal hypothesis, no structured instruments, nostatistical inference testing Field notes of observations, interviews etc. Conclusion: Enhances the existing culture of the firm.

Conclusions (of the authors) All three research philosophies offer an insightful perspective of interest in IS research Goal: Show possibilities, but not to replace positivist perspective with interpretive or critical ones Points out that researchers is often trained in one specific school, and therefore uses one specific approach