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Qualitative Research in Information Systems
Qualitative Research in Information Systems
By: MichaelD. Myers Department Management of Science and Information Systems Universityof Auckland Private Bag92019 Auckland NEW ZEALAND
Abstract
Qualitative research involvesthe useof qualitative data, such as interviews, documents, andparticipant observation,to understand and explain social phenomena. the focus of As informationsystems researchshifts fromtechnological to managerialand organizational issues, qualitative researchmethods become increasingly useful. This example "living of scholarship" within MISQ Discoverys worldwide web archive provides an overview of qualitative researchfor the newcomer a and set of resourcesfor those moreexperienced. Theworkdiscusses philosophicalperspectives that caninformqualitative research, qualitative research methods,techniques, and modes of analysis. Links to citation lists, Internet resources, softwaretools, andcalls for papers are also included. Keywords: Research methodology, action research, case study, ethnography, discourse analysis, hermeneutics, positivist perspective, interpretivist perspective, critical perspective ISRL Categories: AI01,,~,108
MISQ Discovery
resourceboth in teaching(particularly at the doctoral level) and research. Thework provides an overall conceptual structurefor qualitative research, and detailed information on specific topics(e.g., software tools for qualitative dataanalysis). Finally, the maintenance both an archival of and a dynamic version allows us to maintain an historical record of the evolution of the resource, ascertain improvementsin the resource over time, andfit this new electronic media the constraints of the morefamiliar to andtraditional "point-in-time" academic publishing paradigm. In summary,wanted createa living workof I to scholarship couldhelptie together that qualitative researchersin information systems--an
extremelydiverse groupof people,workingin manydifferent parts of the world. The Research ScholarshipDivision of ISWorld and Net providedmewith the motivationto start, professional publicationsstandards, a first and hurdle of editorial oversight. Themembers of my editorial board, Allen Lee and Lynn Markus, along with the manycomments from the users of the resourcehelpedensurethat the initiative reflectedthe needs the broader of community qualitative researchers. of Overthe past year the MISQ Discoveryreviewers have helped meto develop a richer conceptual foundationfor the workandassisted meover a second,morechallenging, editorial hurdle. Formalpublication in MISQ Discovery adds scholarly credibility to this and similarinitiatives while setting a precedent that others may choose follow. to