Critical Realism and IS Research

2012 ◽  
pp. 63-81
Author(s):  
Philip J. Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Methodological Development ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Practical Guidance ◽  
Practical Implications

Critical realism is seeing more application within the Information Systems field, but its application is still limited. Applying critical realism has proven to be difficult, partly because critical realism provides little practical guidance as to methodological development and even less guidance as to the role of technology within its complex arguments. This chapter discusses some of the practical implications consequent from adopting critical realism in terms of philosophy, theory, and methodology.

Critical Realism as an Underlying Philosophy for IS Research

2005 ◽  
pp. 606-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip J. Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Classical Realism ◽  
Causal Laws ◽  
Realist Perspective ◽  
Stable Structures ◽  
Formal Constraints

Many recent articles from within the information systems (IS) arena present an old-fashioned view of realism. For example, Iivari, Hirschheim, and Klein (1998) saw classical realism as seeing “data as describing objective facts, information systems as consisting of technological structures (‘hardware’), human beings as subject to causal laws (determinism), and organizations as relatively stable structures” (p. 172). Wilson (1999) saw the realist perspective as relying on “the availability of a set of formal constraints which have the characteristics of abstractness, generality, invariance across contexts.”

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND APPLICATION OF SAK ETAP ON DEVELOPMENT MODEL FINANCIAL POSITION REPORT

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
S Supriyati ◽  
Atep Darminta ◽  
Rio Yunanto
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Research Method ◽  
System Development ◽  
Development Model ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Financial Position ◽  
Research Type

Bina Siswa SMA Plus Cisarua addressing in Jl. colonel canal masturi no. 64. At the time of document making, record-keeping of transaction relating to account real or financial position report account especially, Bina Siswa SMA Plus Cisarua has applied computer that is by using the application of Microsoft Office Word 2007 and Microsoft Excel 2007, in practice of control to relative financial position report account unable to be added with the duration process performed within financial statement making. For the problems then writer takes title: “The Role Of Technology Information Systems And Aplication Of SAK ETAP On Development Model Financial Position Report”. Research type which writer applies is research type academy, data type which writer applies is qualitative data and quantitative data, research design type which writer applies is research design deskriptif-analistis, research method which writer applies is descriptive research method, survey and eksperiment,  data collecting technique which writer applies is field researcher what consisted of interview and observation  library research, system development method which writer applies is methodologies orienting at process, data and output. System development structure applied is Iterasi. Design of information system applied is context diagram, data flow diagram, and flowchart. Design of this financial position report accounting information system according to statement of financial accounting standard SAK ETAP and output  consisted of information of accumulated fixed assets, receivable list, transaction summary of cash, transaction summary of bank and financial position report.

scholarly journals A systematic literature review on 30 years of empirical research on information systems business value

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Business Value ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
Fundamental Question ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Is Research ◽  
The Past

Information Systems Business Value (ISBV) has been a key research topic for the IS research community. While the vast majority of ISBV research demonstrates the positive relationship between IS and firm performance, the fundamental question of the causal relationships between IS and business value remains partly unexplained. Moreover, researchers do not share a unified understanding of ISBV concepts. Therefore, this research intends to synthesize the past 30 years of empirical ISBV research, identify the gaps and shortcomings, conceptualize the ISBV concepts, and propose possibilities for further research that will widen the current narrowly shared ISBV bottom line. We aim to synthesize (1) different operationalization of concepts in existing ISBV research; (2) IS determinants, consequences, and the relations among the variables; (3) the role of contextual factors; and (4) the adopted theoretical views.

Qualitative Methods in IS Research

2005 ◽  
pp. 2378-2381
Author(s):  
Eileen M. Trauth
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Qualitative Methods ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
Significant Part ◽  
Information Systems Development ◽  
Research Methodologies ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Context Of Use

As information technologies have evolved, so too has our understanding of the information systems that employ them. A significant part of this evolving understanding is the role of the human contexts within which information systems are situated. This, in turn, has led to the need for appropriate methods of studying information systems in their context of use. Just as decisions about information systems need to be considered within their contexts of use, so also do choices about the appropriate research methodologies to employ for studying them. Increasingly, qualitative methods are chosen as an appropriate method for studying contextual aspects of information systems development, use and impact.

Critical Realism as an Underlying Philosophy for IS Research

2011 ◽  
pp. 806-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip J. Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Is Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
Classical Realism ◽  
Causal Laws ◽  
Realist Ontology ◽  
Realist Perspective ◽  
Stable Structures

Many recent articles from within the information systems (IS) arena present an old-fashioned view of realism. For example, Iivari, Hirschheim, and Klein (1998) saw classical realism as seeing “data as describing objective facts, information systems as consisting of technological structures (‘hardware’), human beings as subject to causal laws (determinism), and organizations as relatively stable structures” (p. 172). Wilson (1999) saw the realist perspective as relying on “the availability of a set of formal constraints which have the characteristics of abstractness, generality, invariance across contexts.” Fitzgerald and Howcroft (1998) presented a realist ontology as one of the foundational elements of positivism in discussing the polarity between hard and soft approaches in IS. Realism is placed alongside positivist, objectivist, etic epistemologies and quantitative, confirmatory, deductive, laboratory-focussed and nomothetic methodologies. Such a traditional view of realism is perhaps justified within the IS arena, as it reflects the historical focus of its use, however, there now needs to be a greater recognition of the newer forms of realism—forms of realism that specifically address all of the positivist leanings emphasised by Fitzgerald and Howcroft (1998). A particular example of this newer form of realism is critical realism. This modern realist approach is primarily founded on the writings of the social sciences philosopher Bhaskar (1978, 1979, 1986, 1989, 1991). The usefulness of such an approach has recently been recognized in the IS arena by Dobson (2001) and Mingers (2002).

Using Critical Realism in IS Research

2011 ◽  
pp. 323-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven A. Carlsson
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Social Reality ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Direct Contrast ◽  
Structure Dimension

Different strands of postmodern, poststructuralist, postrealist, and nonpositivistic approaches and theories have gained popularity in information systems (IS) research. Since most of these approaches have a flat treatment of the agency/structure dimension, focus almost exclusively on micro phenomena, and reject objectivist elements, it can be argued that they are problematic to use in IS research. An alternative approach and philosophy is critical realism, which suggests, for example, that social reality is not simply composed of agents’ meanings but that there exist structural factors influencing agents’ lived experiences. Critical realism starts from an ontology which identifies structures and mechanisms through which events and discourses are generated as being fundamental to the constitution of our natural and social reality. This is in direct contrast to a constructivist ontology. This chapter presents critical realism and Derek Layder’s critical-realism-based adaptive theory and exemplifies how they can be used in IS research.

Critical Realism in IS Research

2005 ◽  
pp. 611-616
Author(s):  
Sven A. Carlsson
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Structuration Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Is Research

The Information Systems (IS) field is dominated by research approaches and theories based in positivism (Arnott, Pervan, O’Donnell, & Dodson, 2004; Chen & Hirschheim, 2004; Schultze & Leidner, 2003). IS scholars have pointed out weaknesses in these approaches and theories and in response different strands of post-modern theories and constructivism have gained popularity—see Lee, Liebenau, and DeGross, (1997), Trauth (2001), Whitman and Woszczynski (2004), and Michael Myers’ “Qualitative Research in Information Systems” (http://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz). The approaches and theories argued for include interpretivism, ethnography, grounded theory, and theories like Giddens’ (1984) structuration theory and Latour’s (1987) actor-network theory. (For simplicity, we refer to these different approaches and theories as “post-approaches” and “post-theories” when distinction is not required).

The Role of Behavioral Models in the Ontological Structure of Modern Macroeconomics

2013 ◽  
pp. 98-110
Author(s):  
M. Likhachev
Keyword(s):  
Economic System ◽  
Government Regulation ◽  
Institutional Structure ◽  
Economic Environment ◽  
Behavioral Models ◽  
Macroeconomic Models ◽  
Basic Characteristics ◽  
Practical Implications

Behavioral models are considered in the paper as the link between the description of the institutional structure of the economic system and the formation of macro-aggregates, reflecting the results of its operations. The degree of homogeneity of the private sector’s economic environment and complementary goals of private entities and government regulation are noted as basic characteristics of behavioral models. The author examines the differences in the estimates of these characteristics as one of the most important factors underpinning the architecture of modern macroeconomic models and their practical implications.

The Role of Technology in Higher Education

IJOHMN ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. A. SUBRAMANIAN
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Educational Achievement ◽  
Traditional Education ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Professional Development For Teachers ◽  
Paper Technology ◽  
Educational Field

Present status and use for educational purposes, technology is fulfilling an ever increasing role in both the traditional education field, and in other fields which are utilizing technology for educational purposes. Within the educational field we can see technology as a means of removing barriers for students and teachers alike. First, technology can remove financial and geographical barriers through distributed learning. This allows students and teachers to experience educational opportunities that they might have otherwise never been able to encounter. Second, technology is bringing about a new focus on problem and skill based learning. Information databases are being used to assist teachers in the acquisition of new knowledge and provide professional support outside of the traditional professional development seminar. In regards to future action, we should continue to utilize the successful trends in education as a means to fulfil their developmental potential and see increased impacts on our field. In particular, we should continue the use of distance learning as a means of professional development for teachers, by providing more opportunities aimed at improving their job related performance. Distance learning for students should also be an area of focus by providing software that allows for increasing authenticity in simulations, multimedia content, and social connections. We should continue to focus on technology that allows students to interact with other students and environments located outside of their current environment, locality, and culture. Information systems are also in need of continual investment. Information systems perform two important roles for the educational system: Focus on this paper, technology has already served an important role in education in multiple fields. Specifically, technology has been of great use to the educational field in terms of its focus on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the educational experiences of both students and teachers. Continued use and development of technology can serve to further benefit the educational field and recommendations based on the development of existing trends in education should be pursued for great gains in educational achievement..

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