A Critical Perspective on Action Research as a Method for Information Systems Research

2016 ◽  
pp. 169-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Baskerville ◽  
A. Trevor Wood-Harper
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research

A Critical Perspective on Action Research as a Method for Information Systems Research

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Baskerville ◽  
A. Trevor Wood-Harper
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Rigorous Approach ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research ◽  
The Social

This paper reviews the origins, techniques and roles associated with action research into information systems (IS). Many consider the approach to be the paragon of post-positivist research methods, yet it has a cloudy history among the social sciences. The paper summarizes the rigorous approach to action research and suggests certain domains of ideal use (such as systems development methodology). For those faced with conducting, reviewing or examining action research, the paper discusses various problems, opportunities and strategies.

scholarly journals Theory in Emancipative Action: Aligning Action Research in Information Systems Education with Critical Social Research in Information Systems

Systems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Goede ◽  
Taylorlien
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Critical Social Theory ◽  
Research Perspective ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Education ◽  
Information Systems Research ◽  
Critical Social

As educators, we want to guide our students so that they develop to the best of their ability and are emancipated. As researchers in education, we often use action research. We use proven theories to guide our intervention to emancipate our students. Or do we? Recently, prominent information systems journals have published few papers in the field of information systems education. We demonstrate that the guidelines for action research from a critical social research perspective in information systems are not evident in action research studies in information systems education. The emancipative goals of pure critical social research and reliance on critical social theory to guide our intervention are lacking in these educational studies. Our aim is to provide alignment between educational action research in information systems and information systems research conducted from a critical social theory perspective. Our methodology is to explicitly propose phases of action research from a critical social research perspective, grounded both in information systems and education literature. Then, we demonstrate the value of this approach in a study on the improvement of a data warehousing module. We conclude that by using proven theories and reflecting on the presuppositions in a problem environment, the researcher is able to guide the development of students and the community.

A Bridge Too Far?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte P. Lee ◽  
Kjeld Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Science And Technology Studies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cooperative Work ◽  
Computer Supported Cooperative Work ◽  
Practical Action ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Infrastructures ◽  
Information Systems Research ◽  
Critical Investigation

The study of computing infrastructures has grown significantly due to the rapid proliferation and ubiquity of large-scale IT-based installations. At the same time, recognition has also grown of the usefulness of such studies as a means for understanding computing infrastructures as material complements of practical action. Subsequently the concept of “infrastructure” (or “information infrastructures,” “cyberinfrastructures,” and “infrastructuring”) has gained increasing importance in the area of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) as well as in neighboring areas such as Information Systems research (IS) and Science and Technology Studies (STS). However, as such studies have unfolded, the very concept of “infrastructure” is being applied in different discourses, for different purposes, in myriad different senses. Consequently, the concept of “infrastructure” has become increasingly muddled and needs clarification. The chapter presents a critical investigation of the vicissitudes of the concept of “infrastructure” over the last 35 years.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document