MIS 650 Writing Research Papers I: Theory (Getting an Idea)

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 aTopic • 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 TECHNOLOGY IT MANAGEMENT COMMERCE 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 Paradigms Methodological Issues: Interpretivistism, Qualitative Methods, Ethics MIS 650: Theory

9. Users of the Research Paper Other Researchers Other IS Students IS Practitioners General Public IS Practitioners Research Paper IS Prof IS Instructors 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 succinctly but as vividly as possible: “The role that cultureplays in the perceptions of participants in electronic, computer-supported meetings (EMS)” Note action-orientedkernal: “…plays…” Note focus/locus “culture”, “EMS” In IS, there must be a technology locus MIS 650: Theory

16. 1.3 Contending Theories Existing Theory Phenomenon of Interest Unrelated Implications Contending Theory 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. Variety, Autonomy, Creative Chaos, etc. Enabl’g Cond’ns 1a 1b Info Tech’y Knowl. Creation 2 3 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 Culture Because 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. 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” Two Research Approaches:Positivism Phenomenology 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 makes predictions that are implications Working / Research Theory comes from researcher’s imagination Theory Describing the Real World Testable Hypotheses Hypotheses are operationalised into real-world test of predictions Theory is revised after results of testing. If theory is supported, it need not be revised, however. Real-World Observations Real-World Test Real-world test of predictionsis carried out MIS 650: Theory

26. Example: GSS and Culture Working Hypotheses • W1: “Orientingdecreases 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 abstract Terminology Note Generality 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-awarenessin 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. Theory Development Worksheet Page 3 Page 2 Page 1 Describe a phenomenon that is of interest to you Why is this interesting? What else would you like to know about this phenomenon? MIS 650: Theory

31. Theory Development Worksheet - B Page 1 Page 3 Page 2 What are the important concepts to this phenomenon? How do you think they are related? What about them causes this relationship? MIS 650: Theory

32. Theory Development Worksheet - C Page 2 Page 1 Page 3 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 reason is the best one? MIS 650: Theory

33. Describe a phenomenon that is of interest to you Why is this interesting? What else would you like to know about this phenomenon? Theory Development Worksheet MIS 650: Theory

34. What are the important concepts to this phenomenon? How do you think they are related? What about them causes this relationship? Theory Development Worksheet MIS 650: Theory

35. 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 reason is the best one? Theory Development Worksheet MIS 650: Theory