ICT615
Information Technology Research
Methods
Topic 1
Introduction to IT research
Acknowledgement
of Country
We acknowledge the Binjareb people of the Noongar nation as
the traditional custodians of this country and its waters and that
Murdoch University stands on Noongar country.
We pay our respects to Noongar elders, past and present and
acknowledge their wisdom and advice in teaching and cultural
knowledge activities.
Readings and resources
• Oates, B. J. (2006) Researching Information Systems and Computing. Chapters
1, 2 & 3.
3
Learning objectives
After completing this topic you should be able to:
• Define the term ‘research’
• Be aware of the different types of ICT research
• List the main steps in a typical research project (i.e. the
research process)
• Be aware of the following research approaches:
• Survey
• Design and creation
• Experiment
• Case study
• Action research
4
What is research?
Two dictionary definitions:
• careful study that is done to find and report new knowledge about something
• the activity of getting information about a subject
Question: How do the definitions differ?
5
What is research?
Oates definition:
•Research is the creation of new knowledge, using an appropriate
process, to the satisfaction of the users of the research
For example:
• Research led to understanding: gravity, DNA, origins of the universe
• Research led to development of: electricity, penicillin, atomic bomb
6
What is research?
The outcomes or products of research can include:
• A new or improved product / technique
• A new or modified model or theory
• Deeper understanding of a particular situation
7
What is research?
The aims of research are generally to do with one or more of:
• Observing and describing
• Predicting
• Determining causes
Research is sometimes categorised as:
• Exploratory research
• Descriptive research
• Explanatory research
8
What is ICT research?
Creation of new knowledge in any area of ICT
Question: Is writing a program research?
Question: What are some of the areas of ICT in which
people carry out research?
9
Communications
of the ACM 65(3),
March 2022.
10
MIS Quarterly 45(4)
Dec.2021
11
What is a research project?
A general definition of a project is:
• A project is a [temporary] sequence of unique and
connected activities having one goal or purpose and that
must be completed by a specific time, within budget, and
according to specification
So a research project is a project where the goal is to
create new knowledge
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A research project commonly includes
the following phases:
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Research approaches
Creating the research design includes choosing a research strategy or
approach. Common ones include:
• Design and creation
• Survey
• Experiment
• Case study
• Action research
14
Research Methodologies
Palvia, P., Pinjani, P., and Sibley, E.H. (2007) A profile of information systems 15
research published in Information & Management, 44, 1-11.
Design and creation
The design and creation strategy focuses on developing new ICT products
Often the product is a computer-based system, but might be some element of the
development process like a model or method of doing something
Examples:
• Intelligent systems
• Network routing protocols
• System development methodologies
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Survey research
In survey research the same kinds of data are collected
from a large group of people or events
• Data can be quantitative or qualitative
• Must be designed and administered to minimise bias and
so as can be effectively analysed
• Very frequently used in information systems research
Examples:
• Unit Surveys
• Market research
17
Experimental research
Experiments are designed to find causal relationships between selected variables
in an environment that controls for alternative explanations
Can be laboratory-based or field experiments
Examples:
• Human computer interface (HCI) studies
• System performance comparisons
18
Case study research
Case study research focusses on one or a few instances of something of interest
(the cases):
• Cases might be organisations, systems, development projects, social media sites
• The case or cases are studied in depth using multiple methods of data collection
Examples:
• Reasons for user resistance to new type of system
• Problems with system development methodologies
19
Action research
The action research strategy focusses on practical issues
• It has practical outcomes as well as research outcomes
• It is similar to the case study approach except that it involves the active
contribution of the researcher to the situation being studied
Examples:
• Improving employees compliance with security policies
• Improving business processing via introduction of tablets
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Learning objectives revisited
• What is research?
• What types of research occurs in ICT?
• What are usually the main stages in a research project?
• What are these research approaches?
• Survey
• Design and creation
• Experiment
• Case study
• Action research
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Thank you
