Some of the philosophical issues underpinning research in information systems: from positivism to critical realism

Authors:
Shaun Pather;Dan Remenyi
Affiliations:
Infromatics, Cape Technikon, Box 652, Cape Town, South Africa;Faculty of Business Informatics, Cape Technikon, Box 652, Cape Town, South Africa
Venue:
SAICSIT '04 Proceedings of the 2004 annual research conference of the South African institute of computer scientists and information technologists on IT research in developing countries
Year:
2004

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Abstract

In response to the South African Journal of Computing's editorial of June 2003, this paper reviews some of the philosophical issues underpinning academic research in Information Systems (IS). This is a reflective or theoretical paper, which considers a number of research paradigms and traditions and explores the relevance of Critical Realism as an appropriate metatheory for IS Research. This is not intended to be in any way a definitive description of these research traditions. Rather it is hoped that the paper will stimulate a discussion about the use of three different paradigms, and in doing so respond to the call for IS researchers to be more aware of the research methodological options available to them. The paper concludes by proposing that Critical Realism adds to the bouquet of philosophical choices available to the IS researcher, and that it is found to be an appropriate approach that transcends the critiques of both positivism and interpretivism.