Advanced Research Methods

Transcription

1 Advanced Research Methods Slinger Jansen Sjaak Brinkkemper Peter de Waal Dirk Thierens 1 Why are we here? Thesis project Little or no foundation in information science research methods This is a scientific master So What s my job? 2 1

2 Outline What is theory in Business Informatics? The scientific research process Research methods Quantitative methods Qualitative methods Design research Selecting methods and Methodological fit Practical matters 3 Discussion: What is theory? What theories did you encounter during your studies? What are the theories about? 4 2

3 The diffusion of innovations is... the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (Rogers, 1962) 1. Innovation an idea, practices, or objects that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption. 2. Communication channels the means by which messages get from one individual to another. 3. Time - innovation-decision process - relative time with which an innovation is adopted by an individual or groups - innovation's rate of adoption 4. Social system a set of interrelated units that are engaged in joint problem solving to accomplish a common goal. 5 Adoption types Innovators The Chasm Early adopters: Visionaries Early majority: Pragmatists Late majority: Conservatives Laggards: Skeptics 6 3

4 Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Focus on the determinants of perceived user friendliness and usefulness, Social determinants of actual or intended use, and Behavioral control or user resources performance expectancy effort expectancy social influence behavioral intention use behavior 7 facilitating conditions gender age experience voluntariness of use Practices for Knowledge Exchange Project Kick Off Ongoing Development Team Transition Tacit focus Explicit focus Knowledge Alignment Functional Technical Functional Collaboration Technical Assistance Product Knowledge Center Specification Grooming Technical Documentation Product Transition 8 Nonaka spiral 4

5 Zachman Framework Examples (Scope, Data): enterprise=hospital; important things : patients, doctors, nurses, beds, emergency rooms, medical equipment... (Enterprise Model, Function): business process (e.g. Observation of Patients) & resources (e.g. people, cash, product, material...) 9 9 Theories have Maturity Climate change -> There is presently a 97% consensus amongst climate researchers, but only recently Darwinian Evolution -> 100% among biologists Slinger s theory of girls in MBI -> They just haven t seem enough of me! (0% consensus) 10 5

6 DeLone & McLean Models of IS Success 1992 IS Success Model System Quality Information Quality Intention to Use User Satisfaction Use Individual Impact Organizational Impact 2003 IS Success Model System Quality Intention to Use Use Information Quality User Satisfaction Net Benefits 11 Service Quality Ques6ons about the bodies of knowledge or theories encompassed in a theory:

7 13 13 Perspectives on theory Theories as abstract entities that aim to describe, explain and enhance understanding of the world and, in some cases, to provide predictions of what will happen in the future and to give a basis for intervention and action Three perspectives Generalization Causality Explanation and Prediction

8 Generalization Theories can be classified by their level of generalization Causality

9 Causality Explanation and Prediction

10 Explanation and Prediction Classifying theory in information systems The four primary goals of theory discerned are:

11 Classifying theory in information systems Structural components of Theory 22 Theory Component (common to all theory) Means of Representation Constructs Statements of Relationship Scope Theory Component (contingent to purpose) Causal explanations Testable propositions (hypothesis) Prescriptive statements Description Symbolic representation: words, mathematical terms, diagrams, models, prototypes Phenomena of interest, should be well defined Relationships among primary constructs: associative, compositional, uni-directional, conditional, causal Degree of generality of the statements of relationships and statements of the limits of generalization Description Statements of relationship among phenomena that show causal reasoning Statements of relationships between constructs that can be tested empirically Statements how people can accomplish something, e.g. construct an artefact, or develop a strategy 22 11

12 Research methods Why three kinds of methods? Intro to Qualitative methods Intro to Quantitative methods: Peter de Waal Intro to Design research Are there more? 23 Overview of Qualitative Methods Grounded theory method Structured Literature review Case studies Action research Design research Mixed methods See:

13 Overview of Quantitative methods Peter de Waal 25 Methodological fit Paper of Edmonson & Mcmannon Paper of Steve Easterbrook 26 13

14 Practicals Dirk Thierens 27 14