Lecture 2 (6th of September)

Information Systems Research (ISR) has many stakeholders with different interests and opinions. There are therefore different philosophical assumptions about what constitutes relevant knowledge, which results in different strategies of inquiry (general procedures of research), and consequently in different methods (detailed procedures of data collection, analysis and writing).

“Research in the information systems field examines more than just the technological system, or just the social system, or even the two systems side by side; in addition, it investigates the phenomena that emerge when the two interact.” (Allen Lee, Editorial, MISQ, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2001, p. iii-vii).

Ontological beliefs are our beliefs regarding reality (what it is), epistemological assumptions are our assumptions regarding how we come to know about the world (i.e. our sources of knowledge, or how we make sense of reality); and methodological choices are the means we choose in attempting to achieve desired ends. These are related to each other: your knowledge claims informs your strategies of inquiry and your choice of methods. 

Group exercise: Compare Myers & Avison’s typology of philosophical assumptions (Positivist/Interpretivist/Critical) with Silverman’s (Positivism, Emotionalism, Constructionism)

We discussed Lynne Markus’ paper: what is she saying? How is she constructing her message? How is she arranging her paper in order to produce a convincing line of argument? How is she using empirical material (which types of material, and for what purpose)? On which basis does she make her conclusions? (An additional voluntary exercise was handed out)

Handout: Research proposals, discussion about group work. First version of proposal to be submitted by September 27^th, then again a revised version by October 4^th, then a final report by November 15^th. 

Brief introduction to Ethnography.

• Coming from both social and cultural anthropology.
• Rich descriptions based on extended fieldwork of people (tribes, sub-groups) in their natural environment. A description that would explain for instance a society or a work practice adequately to “outsiders”, in a way that the “insiders” accept or can recognize. Aim: a more or less ‘correct’ understanding of how the people you study perceive and organise their world.
• Focus on cultural and conceptual phenomena, can also be behavioural patterns and material conditions.
• Important principle: Immersion - researcher should spend a significant amount of time in the field. Participant observation is basic. 
• Much used in IS and particularly in CSCW research, with the aim to inform design.

We will read several examples of ethnographic studies for informatics (or more precisely: studies using ethnographic methods). One is the paper by Bardram and Bossen, which is to be discussed in detail on September 27^th

Homework:

• Read Silverman chapter 3 and 4 (The Research Experience) as well as 10 (Writing a Research Proposal).
• Locate, download and read Bardram and Bossen (in roughly the same way as with the Markus paper: 1) what are they saying? 2) how do they say it, on what do they base their claims? 3) What are the basic assumptions about knowledge?
• Read Hughes et al. (Handout): Discusses various ways to use ethnographic studies for systems development.
• Read Suchman and Trigg (Handout): Argues for why (and how) these kinds of studies are relevant for design, and describes working with video recording as a data collection technique.
• Start with the second assignment (interview on identity). To be emailed within Tuesday 19^th.