Research methods in informatics (IT3010, H07)

When/Where:

The course will take place in F3 (2 etg. Gamle fysikk) on Mondays 10:15-12:00.

The first lecture will be held on Monday 20th August.

Brief course description:

The purpose of the course is to provide methodological and practical background for conducing research at master level. The course is recommended for students that are interested in performing research in 'real world' settings and explore how and why various IS are designed, implemented and used by users. The primary focus of the course is collection, analysis and interpretation of qualitative data. The course assignment will provide both practical and analytical experience for further research projects.

Curriculum:

1.Introduction: What is research? What is research in informatics?

Kap. 2.: Oates, B. J. (2006). Researching Information Systems and Computing. London, Sage Publications: Ltd. pp 16-31

Kap. 2.: Cornford, T and Smithson, S. (2006). Project Research in Information Systems. A StudentÕs Guide. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 8-28

Robey, D. and Markus, M.L. (1998). Beyond Rigor and Relevance: Producing Consumable Research about Information Systems. Information Resources Management Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 7-15.

2.Different approaches and methods for doing research in informatics

Galliers, R. D. & Frank F. Land (1987) Choosing Appropriate Information Systems Research Methodologies, Communications of the ACM, Volume 30 Number 11, pp. 900-902

Tichy, W.F. (1998). Should Computer Scientists Experiment More? IEEE Computer, (31:5), pp. 32-40.

Myers, M.D. "Qualitative Research in Information Systems." Available at (http://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz/). Last accessed 18 August 2007.

3.Observation

Kap. 14.: Oates, B. J. (2006). Researching Information Systems and Computing. London, Sage Publications: Ltd. pp 202-219

Heath, C., and Luff, P. (1992) "Collaboration and controlCrisis management and multimedia technology in London Underground Line Control Rooms," Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) (1:1), pp 69-94.

OPTIONAL: Kap. 11.:Robson, C. (2002). Real world research a resource for social scientists and practitioner - researchers. Oxford, Blackwell. pp 309-346

OPTIONAL: "Salmer fra kj¿kkenet "

4.Ethnography-informed studies

Schultze, U. (2001) "Reflexive Ethnography in Information Systems Research," in: Qualitative research in IS issues and trends, E.M. Trauth (ed.), Idea Group Publishing, Hershey, Pa., pp. 78-103.

Golden-Biddle, K. and K. Locke (1993). "Appealing work: An investigation of how ethnographic texts convince." Organization Science 4(4): 595-616.

5.Reviewing the literature

Kap. 6.: Oates, B. J. (2006). Researching Information Systems and Computing. London, Sage Publications Ltd. pp. 71-92

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.

OPTIONAL: Gregor, S. "The Nature of Theory in Information Systems," MIS Quarterly (30:3), Sep 2006, p 611.

6.Document analysis

Kap. 16.: Oates, B. J. (2006). Researching Information Systems and Computing. London, Sage Publications Ltd. pp 233-245

7.Interviews

Kap. 13.: Oates, B. J. (2006). Researching Information Systems and Computing. London, Sage Publications Ltd. pp 186-218

Walsham, G., and Sahay, S. (1999) "GIS for District-Level Administration in India: Problems and Opportunities," MIS Quarterly (23:1), p 39-65

OPTIONAL: Kap. 9.:Robson, C. (2002). Real world research a resource for social scientists and practitioner - researchers. Oxford, Blackwell. pp 269 -291

8.Experiments

Kap. 9.: Oates, B. J. (2006). Researching Information Systems and Computing. London, Sage Publications Ltd. pp 126-141

Ole Andre, A., and Dag, S. (2006) "Interaction techniques for using handhelds and PCs together in a clinical setting," in: Proceedings of the 4th Nordic conference on Human-computer interaction: changing roles, ACM Press, Oslo, Norway.

9.Interpretive IS research

Walsham, G. (1995). Interpretive case studies in IS research: nature and method. European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 4, pp 74-81.

Walsham, G. (2006). Doing interpretive research. European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 15, pp 320-330.

Klein, H.K. and Myers, M.D. (1999) A Set of Principles for Conducting and Evaluating Interpretive Field Studies in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, vol. 23, no.1, pp. 67-93.

10.Questionnaires

Kap. 8.:Robson, C. (2002). Real world research a resource for social scientists and practitioner - researchers. Oxford, Blackwell. pp 227-269

OPTIONAL: Kap. 15.: Oates, B. J. (2006). Researching Information Systems and Computing. London, Sage Publications Ltd. pp 219-232

11.Analysis and interpretation of data

Langley, A (1999) Strategies for Theorizing from Process Data, Academy of Management Research 24:4, pp. 691-710

Hughes, J., and Jones, S. (2004) "Reflections on the use of Grounded Theory in Interpretive Information Systems Research," Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation (6:1)

Boland, R. "Interpretation and theory in qualitative research," in: The art of science, R. Solli, S. Tengblad and B. Czarniawska (eds.), Liber, Malmš, 2005, pp. 219-236.

12.Action research

Baskerville, R.L. and Wood-Harper, T. (1996) A Critical Perspective On Action Research as a Method for Information Systems Research, Journal of Information Technology, 11, pp. 235-246

Braa, J.r., Monteiro, E., and Sahay, S. "Networks of Action: Sustainable Health Information Systems across Developing Countries," MIS Quarterly (28:3), Sep 2004, p 337.