Ph.D. Program in Business
Baruch College Zicklin School of Business and
The Graduate Center of the City University of New York
CIS U821 Research Methods I: Quantitative Research in Information Systems
Professor Linda Weiser Friedman
Linda_Friedman@baruch.cuny.edu
TENTATIVE SYLLABUS – 8/31/04
TEXTS:
 Trochim, William M. K., The Research Methods Knowledge Base. Atomic Dog Publishing,
Cincinnati, OH, 2001.
 Current published papers in IS, as appropriate.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course focuses on designing, evaluating, and understanding quantitative
methods and methodologies for information systems research. Its major objective is to enable students to
design IS experiments and surveys and to produce publishable papers. Students will work on an original
research project and will be expected to submit a research paper to an IS journal or conference.
TOPICS
CHAPTER
Introduction to Scientific Research
Ethical considerations; Human subjects and informed consent.
1
The Tools of Scientific Research
Beginning the research paper: Reviewing the literature;
The world wide web as a research tool; Sources and uses of secondary data;
Primary data collection: focus groups, case studies, experiments, surveys.
Quantitative vs. qualitative research.
Sampling
Non-probability samples; probability samples.
2
The Measurement Instrument
Measuring attitude; Types of data; Rating scales and attitude scales;
Reliability and validity of measurement instruments.
3
Surveys and Surveying Techniques
Questionnaire Construction
4
Experiments and Experimental Design
6, 7
Analyzing the Data
Using statistical software ; Univariate and multivariate techniques.
10
IX. Writing the Research Paper
12
X. Evaluation of IS Research
Journal article; Dissertation.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: literature review paper, midterm examination, research project,
evaluations of published research papers.
COURSE HOME PAGE: http://cisnet.baruch.cuny.edu/friedman/researchmeth/
SOME OTHER RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
Benbasat, Isak (ed.). Information Systems Research Challenge, Vol II. McGraw-Hill, 1991.
Cozby, Paul C. Methods in Behavioral Research. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1997, 2000.
Fowler, Floyd J., Jr. Survey Research Methods, 2nd edition. Sage, 1993.
Green, Samuel B., Neil J. Salkind, Theresa M. Akey. Using SPSS for Windows: Analyzing
and Understanding Data. Prentice Hall, 1997.
Leedy, Paul D. Practical Research: Planning and Design. NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997.
Miller, Delbert C. Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement. Sage, 1991.
Mumford, E. et al. (eds.). Research Methods in Information Systems. North Holland, 1985.
Nation, Jack R. Research Methods. NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997.
Neuman, William Lawrence and Lawrence W. Neuman. Social Research Methods:
Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Allyn & Bacon, 1996.
Rosenthal, Robert and Ralph Rosnow. Essentials of Behavioral Research: Methods and
Data Analysis. McGraw-Hill, 1991.
Rosnow, Ralph L. and Robert Rosenthal. Beginning Behavioral Research: A Conceptual
Primer, 3rd edition. Prentice Hall, 1999.
Sekaran, Uma. Research Methods for Business Research.
Check out the Sage Book Series (monographs). They are easy to read introductions to a variety of
topics in quantitative research methods, survey design, statistical analysis, etc.
http://www.sagepub.com/sage.htm Some useful Series: Qualitative Research Methods;
Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences; Survival Skills for Scholars; Applied Social
Research Methods; Advanced Quantitative Techniques in the Social Sciences; The Survey Kit; …
Information about Information Systems scholarly journals, conferences, professional societies, as well
as research resources may be found on the Information Systems Research Workshop (ISRW) Group
website at: http://cisnet.baruch.cuny.edu/isrw/
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CIS U821 Research Methods I: Quantitative Research in Information Systems
ARTICLES
Literature Review
Barki, Henri, Suzanne Rivard, Jean Talbot (1993). "A keyword classification for IS Research
Literature: An update." MISQ, June, 209-226.
Introduction
Alavi, Maryam, Patricia Carlson (1992). "A review of MIS research and disciplinary development."
JMIS, 8(4), Spring, 45-62.
Straub, Detmar W., Soon Ang, Roberto Evaristo (1994). "Normative standards for IS Research." Data
Base, February, 21-34.
Measurement Instruments
Bailey, James E., Sammy W. Pearson (1983). "Development of a tool for measuring and analyzing
computer user satisfaction." Management Science, 29(5), May, 530-545.
Davis, Fred D. (1989). "Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of
information technology." MISQ, September, 319-340.
Gatian, Amy W. (1994). "Is user satisfaction a valid measure of systems effectiveness?" Information
& Management, 26, 119-131.
Straub, Detmar W. (1989). "Validating Instruments in MIS Research." MIS Quarterly, June, 146167.
Webster, Jane, Joseph J. Martocchio (1992). "Microcomputer playfulness: development of a measure
with workplace implications." MISQ, June, 201-224.
Surveys
Pinsonneault, Alain and Kenneth L. Kraemer (1993). "Survey Research Methodology in
Management Information Systems: An Assessment." Journal of Management Information
Systems, 10 (2, Fall), 75-105.
Schmidt, William C. (1997). "Worldwide web survey research: Benefits, potential problems, and
solutions." Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 29(2), 274-279.
Walsh, John P., Sara Kiesler, lee S. Sproull, Bradford W. Hesse (1992). "Self-selected and randomly
selected respondents in a computer network survey." POQ, 56:241-244.
Field Studies
Franz, Charles R., Daniel Robey, Robert R. Koeblitz (1986). "User response to an online information
system: A field experiment." MISQ, 10(1), March, 29-42.
Harrison, David A., Peter P. Mykytyn Jr., Cynthia K. Riemenschneider (1997). "Executive Decisions
about adoption of information technology in small business: Theory and empirical tests."
ISR, 8(2), June, 171-195.
The Research Framework: Model Development
Chin, Wynne W., Peter A. Todd (1995). "On the use, usefulness, and ease of use of structural
equation modeling in MIS research: A note of caution." MISQ, June, 237-246.
Davis, D., R. Bagozzi, and P. Warshaw 1989. "User acceptance of computer technology: A
comparison of two theoretical models." Management Science, 35 (8), 982-1003.
Lee, Byungtae, Anitesh Barua, Andrew B. Whinston (1997). "Discovery and representation of causal
relationships in MIS research: A methodological framework." MISQ, March, 109-136.
Experimental Design
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Lim, Kai H., I. Benbasat, and P.A. Todd (1996). "An experimental investigation of the interactive
effects of interface style, instructions, and task familiarity on user performance." ACM Trans.
On computer-Human Interaction, 3 (1, March), 1-37.
Experimental Factor: The Task
Jarvenpaa, Sirkka L., Gary W. Dickson, Gerardine DeSanctis (1985). "Methodological issues in
Experimental IS Research: Experiences and recommendations," MISQ, 9(2, June), 141-156.
Statistical Analysis
Baroudi, Jack J., Wanda J. Orlikowski (1989). "The problem of statistical power in MIS research."
MISQ, March, 87-106.
IS Research Report: Introduction to Conclusion
Agarwal, Ritu, Jayesh Prasad (1997). "The role of innovation characteristics and perceived
voluntariness in the acceptance of information technologies." Decision Sciences, 28(3),
Summer, 557-582.
Chan, Yolande E., Sid L. Huff, Donald W. Barclay, Duncan G. Copeland (1997). "Business strategic
orientation, information systems strategic orientation, and strategic alignment." ISR, 8(2),
June, 125-150.
Gattiker, Urs E., Helen Kelley (1999). "Morality and computers: Attitudes and differences in moral
judgments." ISR, 10(3), September, 233-254.
Thong, James Y.L. (1999). "An integrated model of information systems adoption in small
businesses." JMIS, 15(4), Spring, 187-214.
TBA
DeLone, William H. and Ephraim R. McLean. "Information systems success: the quest for the
dependent variable." Information Systems Research (March 1992).
Galliers, Robert D. and Frank F. Land. "Choosing appropriate information systems research
methodologies." Comm. ACM, 30(11, November 1987).
Jenkins, A.M. "Research Methodologies and MIS Research." In E. Mumford et al. (eds.), Research
Methods in Information systems. North-Holland, 1985, 103-117.
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