Preface to the Second Edition
Purpose, Structure, and Audience of this Book
Purpose and Audience
Structure
Acknowledgments
Contents
Part I: Basic Principles of Research
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Welcome to the Information Systems Field!
1.2 Understanding Your Motivation to Pursue Research
1.3 The PhD Challenge
1.4 What This Book Is About
1.5 Further Reading
References
Chapter 2: Information Systems Research as a Science
2.1 About Science
2.2 Scientific Knowledge
2.3 Scientific Inquiry
2.4 Essential Scientific Concepts
2.5 Further Reading
References
Part II: Conducting Research
Chapter 3: Planning Your Research
3.1 Research Questions
Motivation of the Research Question
Specification of the Research Question
Justification of the Research Question
3.2 Research Design
Intellectual Reasoning: Induction, Deduction, and Abduction
Exploration, Rationalisation, and Validation
Choosing a Research Design
3.3 Research Methodology
3.4 The Role of Literature in the Research Process
3.5 Further Reading
References
Chapter 4: Theorising
4.1 What Is Theory?
Definition of Theory
4.2 Building Blocks of Theory
Constructs, Relationships, Mechanisms, and Boundary Conditions
Constructs Can Play Multiple Roles in Theories
4.3 Types of Theory
4.4 Theorising as a Process
An Example
4.5 Guidelines and Techniques for Theorising
4.6 Further Reading
References
Chapter 5: Research Methods
5.1 Quantitative Methods
Quantitative Methods Depend on Measurement
Validity
Reliability
Processes for Developing and Assessing Measures and Measurements
Types of Quantitative Methods: Survey Research
Types of Quantitative Methods: Experimental Research
5.2 Qualitative Methods
Data Collection Techniques
Data Analysis Techniques
Rigor in Qualitative Research
Types of Qualitative Methods: Case Study
Types of Qualitative Methods: Action Research
Types of Qualitative Methods: Grounded Theory
5.3 Design Science Methods
5.4 Computational Methods
Digital Trace Data
Computational Data Processing and Analysis
5.5 Mixed Methods
5.6 Further Reading
References
Part III: Publishing Research
Chapter 6: Writing IS Research Articles
6.1 Why Publishing Is Important
6.2 How Publishing Works
6.3 Preparing Publications
The Publishing Process
Key Publishing Decisions
Managing Co-Authorship
The Pre-Submission Lifecycle
6.4 Writing a Paper
Structuring Your Paper
Writing an Introduction
Writing a Background Section
Writing About Your Research Model, Your Theory, or Your Hypotheses
Writing About Your Procedures, Your Research Approach, Your Methods, or Your Research Design
Writing About Results, Findings, or Outcomes
Writing the Discussion Section
Writing About Implications
Writing a Conclusion
Writing an Abstract
6.5 Revising a Paper
Understanding Reviews
Revising a Paper Based on Reviews
6.6 Further Reading
References
Chapter 7: Ethical Considerations in Research
7.1 The Role of Ethics in Research
Problems with Scientific Ethics in Research Practice
7.2 Ethical Considerations for Scientific Conduct
Examples I Have Encountered
7.3 Ethical Considerations for Scientific Writing
Examples I Have Encountered
7.4 Further Reading
References
Chapter 8: Concluding Remarks
Index