Meta-Synthesizing Qualitative Research in Information Systems

Editorial Preface: In Support of Qualitative Information Systems Research

There is a growing community of researchers conducting global qualitative investigations in information systems (Tan & Gallupe, 2004). The members of this research community are interested in investigating research participants’ interpretations of phenomena. In situations where relatively little is know about an area under investigation, such as global research, qualitative approaches allow the...

AJIS Featured Theme: Qualitative Research in Information Systems

Fact or Fiction: Qualitative Research Results in Information Systems

In this discussion paper multiple points of view, and effects and sources of bias in qualitative research results in organizational information systems are explored. A generic qualitative research process is traced starting from the ways in which researchers obtain permission to gather data in organizations. Multiple points of view in the research process, all of which may introduce bias into r...

Pragmatism vs interpretivism in qualitative information systems research

Qualitative research is often associated with interpretivism, but alternatives do exist. Besides critical research and sometimes positivism, qualitative research in information systems can be performed following a paradigm of pragmatism. This paradigm is associated with action, intervention and constructive knowledge. This paper has picked out interpretivism and pragmatism as two possible and i...

4. Qualitative research in information systems: consideration of selected theories

Qualitative researchers attempt to document observed phenomena relative to the meanings attributed to the phenomena by research participants involved in the specific incident or situation. Relatively recently, the information systems research community has responded to the call for more of an emphasis on conducting qualitative research. This paper presents three theories, Grounded Theory, Perso...