Research Methodologies

in Information Systems Introduction to the Research Endeavor

Prof. Dr. Mohamed M. El Hadi
Sadat Academy for Management Science

M. M. El Hadi

1. A First Look at Research Works

Research = Ask a question and answering this
question ASK A QUESTION
Define the boundaries

Work out details

DIG For ANSWER

Use clear concepts and definitions Use the appropriate tools

Compare with existing knowledge

ANSWER With a clearly structured text

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1.1 Major Stages of a Research Work

1. Identification of a topic

2. Preparation of the research plan/

proposal & its research Design

3. Implementation of the plan

4. Writing the Research Report/Thesis M. M. El Hadi

2. Organization of the Research

2.1 What do you need to know? Methods
Theory of Science Research logic Find a subject --------------------------Research plan definition ---------------------------Implementation ------------------------Writing the Report
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Other Techniques
Reading find and Understand things

Methodologies and Approaches

Management planning, etc.

Methods and Techniques

Verbal and oral presentatio

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Knowledge of the Specific Domain of Study

2.2 Objective of the Research Undertaking

Abstract
Academic research
Understand what it means

Research Methodology
- Some basic principles (e.g. validity) - Some qualitative and quantitative methods

Research Design
- Make a research plan/proposal - Know how to operationalize the research questions

Techniques
- Find ideas, write, plan, etc. - Some quantitative and qualitative data gathering
analysis techniques. and

Practical
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3. The Concept of Science

3.1 Which Elements Define a Given Piece of Research?
1.
Theory of science: * What is Knowledge? Academic Knowledge? * How sound your research reasons? Deduction? Induction? Model? 2. The Methodology: * Should fit research subject/topic. * Should be legitimated by some theory of science. 3. The Research Object: * Need to define exactly what it is wanted to the study. 4. The Research Goals: * what is the purpose of the study? 5. The Means to be Utilized? * Knowledge, and Data Access, * Time scheduling, Financial Resources Needed.
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An Equilibrium Between Methods, Object, Goals and Means

Theory of Science
Counsel

Methodology

Constraints
Constraints

Study Object

Limits

Limits

Constraints

Means
In Information Research, there rarely is a ready solution for the problem There are suggestions (freedom to choose) and indications (things not to do) I.e a researcher has to come up with his own research design and its M. M. El Hadi justification

Goal
Limits

3.2 What is Meant by Academic Empirical Research?

1. A systematic activity:

- Produced knowledge is a coherent whole. - It (i.e. the results) should integrate with a system of knowledge., build upon literature and
compare with literature.

2. Centered on reality:
- e. g., nature, society, peoples behavior, peoples attitudes, etc. - i. e, the research must not just speculate, but look at things. 3. Precise tools (hypotheses, theories, methods, reliable techniques, etc.) - The researcher should be aware of his confirmation bias, test his conclusions against alternative explanations.

4. Generalization:
- contribute to theories by using and testing the theoretical statements. - Reuse and criticize the used instruments (frameworks, analysis grids, etc.) - Suggest modifications (or even new theories).

In addition: 5. A belief in determinism, i. e, Phenomena are necessary consequence of conditions

causes that means randomness in explanations is due to ignorance, complexity, etc. 6. Relativism: It should be known that our knowledge is not perfect in particular with social sciences
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3.3 Whats an Integrated Piece of Research?

The researcher has to produce something that is
(somewhat) new:
- Answer new questions. - Answer old questions without good answers. - Answer otherwise to questions addressed by the literature. - Provide support to answers found in literature with a new argumentation. - Apply a theory to a new types of cases.

A piece of research produces something tha

provides satisfaction to:
- A certain community, the researcher does not write his research for himself.

M. M. El Hadi

4. The Role of Method and Theory

4.1 Epistemological Dimensions of Research:
Theories of Science:
- sets from a philosophical perspective the conditions of scientific knowledge.
- Example: A researcher cant prove a hypothesis only evidence, show that alternatives are wrong.

Methodologies (Also called Approaches):

- General recommendations on how a researcher should design a research plan. - Drawing from a theory of science and suggesting a set of legitimate methods, -Example A researcher should draw hypothesis from theory and then test it with quantitative research. Methods: A general recipes to study a given class of phenomena, examples survey research methodology, participatory software design etc. Reasoning Methods: How to pass from data to theory and from theory to data?
etc.
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Techniques: Practical tools to gather, manipulate analyze data, manipulate concepts,

4.2 The Range of Theories

Big Theories: Related to complex topics, such as society,
learning, etc.

Theories with Limited Scope: Concerns more restricted

domains, such as usability guidelines for software, conditions under which multimedia animations are effective, etc.

Formal Models: Based on formal systems, e. g. mathematics,

logics, rule systems, formal learning design, etc.; Sometimes tested with empirical data.

Hypotheses:
- Are frequently part of a theory or a formal model. - clear propositions that can be tested.

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4.3 Everything Together: Components of Knowledge

General Theory of Science Methods of Conclusion Methodology Approach Methods Techniques Big theory

Theories with limited scope

Conceptual Models Model Formal Models

Hypothesis Data (observations)

Particular Abstract (how to) Concrete (how)

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4.4 The Paradigm Concept

1.

Major Components of a paradigm:

A general asymptotic research goal: - e.g., Understand how to teach (instruction design), also at this level a researcher can find general ideas at what he should look at. 2. Intermediate level: partial theory; in this level one must introduce authentic problems that must be solved. 3. Operational level: Empirically tested theory. Such as utilizing procedural programming, solving simple problems, etc. 4. Each paradigm favors certain methodologies. Why follow a paradigm? - Because it is more productive - Different researchers can work together, or profit from each others results. What happens if a researcher does not do that? - People will not understand him and therefore ignore him if he does not use accepted methodology or problems. - The research results are not comparable.

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4.5 The Approach

There are in fact two different definitions to the word Approach: Approach = General methodology - Which means a way to do it
- It includes a set of useful and tested methods for studying or investigating a set of phenomena, e. g., the researcher could use the quasi-experimental design to study the organization reform and improvement. - Also, the word approach is often trans-disciplinary, for example, the quasiexperimental approach was developed in educational science but has been exported to other disciplines such as public policy analysis and many othe domains including information systems domains.

Approach = Paradigm:
- For example, Activity theory approach which means that:

- A researcher favor quantitative research methodology, or - He is interested in change, - etc.

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4.6 Interdisciplinary Approach

Interdisciplinary means combinations of approaches or paradigms. Interdisciplinary encompasses 3 variants:
1. Multi-disciplinary: The compromise of various research methodologies or paradigms, each one keeping its own language. 2. Interdisciplinary: Confrontation and exchange of methods and / or adoption of a mix from various fields for a new field. 3. Trans-disciplinary: Usually a high abstraction level, e. g., systems theory.

Difficulties:
- Multi-disciplinary research is considered difficult to coordinate, it needs wide knowledge and very good communication skills to talk to people using different languages. - Interdisciplinary research is considered easier, because only methods and concepts that fit are taken from other fields; However, concerned scientific communities may not accept that from the researcher. It takes more time than disciplinary research, e.g. doing a complete software engineering thesis that involves computer science, information systems, pedagogy, psychology, and ICT development which takes more than doing a thesis in just one of these domains.

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5. Types of Research
5.1 Classification according to Theory Level:
1. Simple description: This kind of research does not have much academic value (unless it is led to prepare further research). 2. Classification and categorization: It is concerned with putting order in concepts or data, - The intelligent case study (exploratory research), - Typologies (identify characteristics of classes of cases, e. g., uses of ICT in organizations, - Ideal type (theory-based identification of classes of cases), - The system model (shows interactions between elements). 3. Research where theory plays an important role: - Theory attempts generalization and demonstrates regulations. - Theories tries to understand or to explain or to predict.
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5.2 Scientific Ends

Finalities Exploratory - Study of new phenomena,
- Preparation of another research

Typical Questions
What happens in this program? How does this organization work?

Approaches
* Case study * Field study

Methods
Participatory
observation In-depth interviews Information interviews

Explanatory

- Explain the forces that

constitute a phenomenon

Which events, behaviors, beliefs result in this phenomenon?

* Comparative case study * Historical study * Field study * Ethnography * Field study * Case study * Ethnography

(Like above) Questionnaires Document analysis Field observations (Like above) Non-intrusive measures Task observations

Descriptive/Compreh ension - Documentation of a

phenomenon - Comprehension

What are the events, structures, processes that constitute this phenomenon?

Predictive - Global predictions.

- Prediction of events, behaviors, etc.

What is the result of X? How does X influence Y?

Experiment Quasi-experiment Statistical Simulation

Questionnaires Quantitative content

analysis Quantitative observations

Engineering -Delivered products -- Delivered technical tools

Whats the problem? Designs (with user , M. M. El Hadi usability studies) How to build something? Most approaches above Does it work?

*Application of design 17 rules (technical rule) Rather qualitative

5.3 Typology of Research Methodologies

Research Approaches

Approaches Studying Reality

Mathematical & Philosophical Approaches

Researches Stressing What is reality

Researches Stressing Utility of innovations (designs and evaluations)

Innovation evaluation approaches

Conceptual-analytical Approaches

Empirical Innovation building studies approaches

Theory testing Approaches

Theory creating Approaches

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