MIS 650: Theory 1

MIS 650Writing Research Papers I:

Theory(Getting an Idea)

MIS 650: Theory 2

Why Write a Research Paper

To TEACH what is known To HIGHLIGHT the need to know more To GENERATE new thought To INTEGRATE your thought into existing

thought To DEMONSTRATE the truth of your

thinking To INSTIGATE new inquiry

MIS 650: Theory 3

Forms of Research Paper

Formal published article in scholarly or professional journal

Paper delivered at scholarly or professional conference

Technical report to working group (business or professional)

Journalistic article for (general) public Dissertation/Thesis/Research Report/ Technical

Report

MIS 650: Theory 4

Types of Research Paper Critical Review of Thought Expose of Bad Practice (Re) Analysis of the Situation Research Report, pointing out new facts,

seeking opportunities

MIS 650: Theory 5

Pragmatics of ISResearch• Consult Strategic Plan (Strategy, Planning)

• Generate the Question (Marketing)

• Find a Sponsor (Marketing, Finance)

• Settle Ethical Questions, Obtain Approval (Policy)

• Write one or more Proposals (Comm’n)

• Research the Literature (Operations)

• Refine the Question (Marketing, Policy)

MIS 650: Theory 6

Pragmatics of IS Research (cont’d.)

• Research the Real World (Operations)

• Analyse the Results (Operations)

• Document the Results (Communication)

• Draw Conclusions (Operations)

• Submit for Publication (Sales)

• Account for Resource use (Accounting)

• Celebrate or cringe (PR)

MIS 650: Theory 7

Generating a Topic

Unsystematically Systematically

For a Funder/Audience To Complete/Round out a Resume What Will Sell

Current Hot Topics The Need for a Stable Phenomenon The Need to Hold Your Interest

MIS 650: Theory 8

CURRENT HOT TOPICS

TECHNOLOGYIT

MANAGEMENTCOMMERCE

Methods

Internet, Web

Client-Server

GroupWare

IT Staff Retention

CIO, IT Governance

IT Practices, Success

Project Management

Outsourcing

BPR & friends

Electronic Commerce

“Alignment”

Technology Adoption

Global IS

Network ParadigmsMethodological Issues:

Interpretivistism, Qualitative Methods,

Ethics

MIS 650: Theory 9

Users of the Research Paper

Research

Paper

IS Prof

Other

Researchers

IS

Practitioners

Other

IS

Students

General Public

IS

Instructors

IS

Practitioners

Exter-nal

Reader

MIS 650: Theory 10

Uses of the Research Paper Extend the “frontiers” of knowledge Point out commercial opportunities Meet the needs of academic task, goal Foment revolution, change Market ideas to a limited group Sound the alarm, call to action “Hidden Agendas” (career, politics, etc.)

MIS 650: Theory 11

How Your Paper Will Be Judged Innovativeness, contribution to theory Completeness of background research Relevance to perceived current challenges Clarity, succinctness, appeal, structure Mechanical production or delivery Persuasiveness, face validity Applicability of results Political correctness, unfortunately

MIS 650: Theory 12

Structure of the Research Paper

Chapter 1: Theory Chapter 2: Literature Review Chapter 3: Methodology Chapter 4: Data Collection Chapter 5: Analysis and Results Chapter 6: Conclusions

MIS 650: Theory 13

Chapter 1: Theory

Chapter Outline 1.1 Context, History 1.2 Your Research TOPIC 1.3 Contending Theories (if any) 1.4 Necessity for Research 1.5 Value of Research 1.6 The Research Hypotheses 1.7 Overview of Rest of Paper

MIS 650: Theory 14

1.1 Context/History WHEN: The history of the research area: What has happened in the real world? What has happened in the world of ideas? WHERE: Context WHO is interested? WHY? WHAT are the stakes and stakeholders HOW: Method Why is this new approach called for?

MIS 650: Theory 15

1.2 Your Research Topic

State your research topic as succinctlysuccinctly but as vividlyvividly as possible:

“The role that culture plays in the perceptions of participants in electronic, computer-supported meetings (EMS)”

Note action-oriented kernal: “…plays…”

Note focus/locus “culture”, “EMS”

In IS, there must be a technology locus

MIS 650: Theory 16

1.3 Contending Theories

Existing Theory

Contending Theory

Ph

e nom

e non

o f Inte re st

Un

r el at ed Im

pli ca tio n

s

Possibly yours!

MIS 650: Theory 17

Example: Deindividuation

Current theory says creativity in meetings due to “deindividuation”, participant losing inhibitions by being “immersed in group”

Deindividuation can explain both good and bad behaviour, but little bad happens, and cannot explain free riding

New theory (“orienting”) shows how people are creative while probing constraint

MIS 650: Theory 18

Example: IT and Knowledge Creation KC requires certain enabling conditions IT can affect KC in three ways:

IT can (1) create enabling conditions, (2) affect how E.C.s facilitate K.C. and (3) directly generate knowledge.

InfoTech’y

Enabl’gCond’ns Knowl.

Creation

1a 1b

23

Variety, Autonomy, Creative Chaos, etc.

MIS 650: Theory 19

1.4 Necessity for Research: Possible reasons

• Situation is instance of more general phenomenon regarding technology

• Commercial interest

• Potential for wasting lots of business resources

• People need help with technology

• Technology is going the wrong direction

MIS 650: Theory 20

1.5 Value of Research:Possible Criteria

Refers to previous sections on WHAT, WHO, WHY, and HOW

Demonstrates that research is worth doing Convinces that paper is worth reading

MIS 650: Theory 21

Example: GSS and CultureBecause existing theories don’t explain anomalous

(unexpected and inconsistent) results very well, these theories need improvement. Also, such systems are now more widely marketed to non-American groups. In addition, there have been many examples of partial implementation and huge expense. We suspect that corporate or national culture is a strong influence on the value of GSS. The new theory shows how culture influences users’ perceptions and evaluations.

MIS 650: Theory 22

1.6 The Research Hypotheses Are predictions from theory that can be

tested. THEY MUST BE TESTABLE Generally are phrased in “abstract” terms

but can be related to real-world phenomena If hypotheses are shown to be false, then the

underlying theory must have something false in it

Often stated in the “null” or negative way

MIS 650: Theory 23

Two Research Approaches: Positivism Phenomenology• Seeks prediction and

control• Reduces world to

atoms• Stresses observation• Concerned with

objectivity• “Scientific”

• Seeks understanding and debate

• Treats world as a whole within context

• Stresses experience• Concerned with

subjectivity• “Experiential”

MIS 650: Theory 24

A Brief Journey to Positivismland Independence of Observer Free of values; objectivity is goal Seeks to explain causes Hypothetico-Deductive (theory tested by

observation) Operationalisation is key Reductionist Seeks Generalisations Cross-sectional

MIS 650: Theory 25

Hypothetico-Deductive Method

Theory Describing the Real World

Testable Hypotheses

Real-World Observations Real-World Test

Theory makes

predictions that are

implications

Hypotheses are operationalised into real-world

test of predictions

Real-world test of

predictions is carried out

Theory is revised after results of

testing. If theory is supported, it need

not be revised, however.

Theory comes from researcher’s imagination

Working /

Research

MIS 650: Theory 26

Example: GSS and Culture Working Hypotheses• W1: “Orienting decreases with time”

• W2: “New cultural situations heighten need to orient”

• W3: “New situations heighten sense of self-awareness and thus reduce perceived sense of anonymity”

Note Generality

Note abstract Terminology

MIS 650: Theory 27

Example: GSS and Culture Research Hypotheses• H1: Participants (Ps) generate more

orienting-type comments in early stages of meeting than later stages

• H2: Ps generate more orienting-type comments in a transcultural setting than in a unicultural setting

• H3: Ps have a higher sense of self-awareness in transcultural settings than...

MIS 650: Theory 28

1.7 Overview of Rest of the Research Paper Mention each chapter Highlight main point of each chapter If not as expected (I.e., this outline), explain

why you must deviate from expected Point out any unusual things the reader must

watch out for Acknowledgements can be put here or in

separate section at front of paper

MIS 650: Theory 29

Theory Development Worksheet

Complete the attached worksheet

Develop a formalised set of theoretical ideas

Write a short article on the ideas

MIS 650: Theory 30

Describe a phenomenon that is of interest to you

Why is this interesting?

What else would you like to know about this phenomenon?

Page 3

Page 2

Page 1

MIS 650: Theory 31

What are the important concepts to this phenomenon?

How do you think they are related?

What about them causes this relationship?

Page 1

Page 3

Page 2

MIS 650: Theory 32

What other reasons could there be for this phenomenon to occur the way it does?

How would you say these reasons differ from one another?

How would you go about demonstrating which reasonis the best one?

Page 2

Page 1

Page 3

MIS 650: Theory 33

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MIS 650: Theory 34

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MIS 650: Theory 35

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