empfohlenes Vorwissen

There are no prerequisites for attending this course. 

Abstract

The lecture “IS Research Fundamentals” is designed to provide students with an opportunity to build the basic theoretical and methodological skills needed to conceptualize, conduct, and communicate their own research. To do so, the course will familiarize students with the essential research triad, namely topic, methods, and theories. While selecting an exciting topic is a fundamental anchor for the relevance of a research endeavor, a researcher’s ability to produce rigorous results depends on a sound command of the relevant theories and methods.

In this context, theories provide a solid basis by summarizing current knowledge and allowing for a precise investigation and definition of the topic’s underlying phenomena. Theories also provide students with a theoretical lens to investigate their topics from the perspective in which they are most interested. In addition, methods provide students with the ability to produce reliable results, thus allowing them to derive both meaningful and trustworthy conclusions. By applying appropriate theories and methods, students can therefore ensure that their results are not only interesting, but also scientifically valid.

Lehrinhalte

• The What, How and Why: Scientific Thinking, Research Process, Philosophy of Science
• Scientific Writing and Publishing: Paper structures, Publishing Process, Reviews (Exam)
• Research Design I - Topics: Domains of IS, Fundamentals, Basic Research Design
• Research Design II – Theories: Definition and Concepts, Building Blocks of Theories, Contributing to Theoretical Advancements
• Research Design III – Methods: Important IS Research Methods, Data Collection, Data Analysis

Literaturangaben

• Bacharach, S.B. 1989. "Organizational Theories: Some Criteria for Evaluation," Academy of Management Review (14:4), pp. 496-515.
• Banker, R.D., and Kauffman, R.J. 2004. "The Evolution of Research on Information Systems: A Fiftieth- Year Survey of the Literature in Management Science," Management Science (50:3), pp. 281-298.
• Bhattacherjee, A. 2012. Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices, (2. ed.). Tampa, FL, USA: Global Text Project.
• Carpenter, M.A. 2009. "Editor's Comments: Mentoring Colleagues in the Craft and Spirit of Peer Review," Academy of Management Review (34:2), pp. 191-195.
• Fettke, P. 2006. "State-of-the-Art Des State-of-the-Art: Eine Untersuchung der Forschungsmethode „Review“ Innerhalb der Wirtschaftsinformatik," Wirtschaftsinformatik (48:4), pp. 257-266.
• Gregor, S. 2006. "The Nature of Theory in Information Systems," MIS Quarterly (30:3), pp. 611-642.
• Kitchenham, B. 2004. "Procedures for Performing Systematic Reviews," Keele University, Department of Computer Science, Keele, UK.
• Lepak, D. 2009. "Editor's Comments: What IS Good Reviewing?," Academy of Management Review (34:3), pp. 375-381.
• Mingers, J. 2001. "Combining IS Research Methods: Towards a Pluralist Methodology," Information Systems Research (12:3), pp. 240-259.
• Orlikowski, W.J., and Baroudi, J.J. 1991. "Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions," Information Systems Research (2:1), pp. 1-28.
• Palvia, P., Leary, D., Mao, E., Midha, V., Pinjani, P., and Salam, A.F. 2004. "Research Methodologies in MIS: An Update," Communications of the Association for Information Systems (14:24), pp. 526-542.
• Straub, D.W. 2009. "Why Top Journals Accept Your Paper," MIS Quarterly (33:3), pp. iii-x.
• Sutton, R.I., and Staw, B.M. 1995. "What Theory Is Not," Administrative Science Quarterly (40:3), pp. 371-384.
• Truex, D., Holmström, J., and Keil, M. 2006. "Theorizing in Information Systems Research: A Reflexive Analysis of the Adaptation of Theory in Information Systems Research," in: Journal of the Association for Information Systems. Association for Information Systems, pp. 797-821.
• Webster, J., and Watson, R.T. 2002. "Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing a Literature Review," MIS Quarterly (26:2), pp. xiii-xxiii.
• Wilde, T., and Hess, T. 2007. "Forschungsmethoden der Wirtschaftsinformatik - Eine Empirische Untersuchung," Wirtschaftsinformatik (49:4), pp. 280-287.

didaktisches Konzept

Based on the selected readings, the course will also highlight some key theories used in IS research. Students will learn how the studies develop theories further (or will develop their own), how to use theories appropriately, as well as how to contribute to them. In addition, optional readings are provided for each session to facilitate students’ learning experience and to help deepen and extend the topics discussed in class.

Hörerschaft

• WiInf-Ma-2010 > Wahlpflichtbereich > Wahlpflichtbereich I: Wirtschaftsinformatik > (1.-3. Fachsemester, Wahlpflicht) Modul "Information Systems Research "