Epistemological perspectives on IS research: a framework for analysing and systematizing epistemological assumptions

Abstract

Over the last three decades, a methodological pluralism has developed within information systems (IS) research. Various disciplines and many research communities as well, contribute to this discussion. However, working on the same research topic or studying the same phenomenon does not necessarily ensure mutual understanding. Especially within this multidisciplinary and international context, the epistemological assumptions made by different researchers may vary fundamentally. These assumptions exert a substantial impact on how concepts like validity, reliability, quality and rigour of research are understood. Thus, the extensive publication of epistemological assumptions is, in effect, almost mandatory. Hence, the aim of this paper is to develop an epistemological framework which can be used for systematically analysing the epistemological assumptions in IS research. Rather than attempting to identify and classify IS research paradigms, this research aims at a comprehensive discussion of epistemology within the context of IS. It seeks to contribute to building the basis for identifying similarities as well as differences between distinct IS approaches and methods. In order to demonstrate the epistemological framework, the consensus-oriented interpretivist approach to conceptual modelling is used as an example.

Theorising Web 3.0: ICTs in a changing society

“…Although many others have written in the past about the broadly positivist bias of IS literature (Orlikowski & Baroudi 1991;Lyytinen et al 2007;Becker et al 2007;Paul 2007;Gallivan & Benbunan-Fich 2008;Galliers 2008;Paul 2008;Liu & Myers 2011), our task in this editorial is to suggest, perhaps, that the moment for a more interpretivist leaning -if it had not beforehas certainly now arrived, in particular with the advent of the Internet of Things, or what some are calling Web 3.0.…”

Generalization and systemic epistemology: Why should it make sense?

“…It has gained notable attention in the Information Systems discipline (Becker and Niehaves, 2007). This practice in systems research has been a rich source of debate for many years (see Zhu (2007) for example).…”

Theory-driven or process-driven prediction? Epistemological challenges of big data analytics

“…Investigating the epistemological challenges and pitfalls is crucial to the IS community which is becoming more and more multidisciplinary as well as multinational [21]. Numerous authors have discussed the potential of BDA for IS research, for example, Shimueli and Koppius [8] described six roles for predictive analytics: generating new theory, develop measurements, comparison of competing theories, improvement of existing models, relevance assessment, and assessment of the predictability of empirical phenomena.…”