Course Outline 2011
INFOSYS 751: RESEARCH METHODS (QUALITATIVE) (15 POINTS)
Semester 1 (1113)
Course Prescription
Focus is on the conduct and evaluation of qualitative research. Reviews various
qualitative research methods and ways of analysing qualitative data and the challenges
of writing up qualitative research work for conferences and peer-reviewed academic
journals.
Goals of the Course
The purpose of this course is to provide advanced education and training in qualitative
research methods for postgraduate students. The general goals of this course are:
1) Philosophy and Research Design: Students will know the underlying research
philosophies and possible qualitative research designs in business and management
2) Research Methods: Students will understand how a variety of qualitative research
methods, including action research, case study research, ethnographic research and
grounded theory, can be used in business and management
3) Critical Thinking Skills: Students will analyse and critically evaluate published
examples of qualitative research in information systems
4) Communication Skills: Students will write and present a research proposal and they
will develop an appreciation of the challenges of writing up qualitative research work for
a thesis, conference paper and journal article
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course it is expected that the student will be able to:
1. display familiarity with a broad array of qualitative research methods and approaches
that are used within the field of information systems;
2. demonstrate competence in critical thinking by presenting and evaluating arguments
in an academic fashion;
3. exhibit competence in critiquing the research methods sections of qualitative research
articles published in some of the leading academic journals; and
4. know how to write a research proposal using qualitative methods.
Content Outline
Content
Introduction and Overview
Qualitative Research Methods
Qualitative Analysis and Writing Up
Presentation of Research Proposal
Schedule
Weeks 1-2
Weeks 3-7
Weeks 8-10
Weeks 11-12
Learning and Teaching
The anticipated class size should not exceed 35 students. The class will meet for three
hours each week. Class time will be used for a combination of lectures, discussions of
qualitative research articles, and practical exercises. In additional to attending classes,
students should be prepared to spend about another six hours per week on activities
related to this course. These activities include reading the required and recommended
articles of relevance to this course, and preparing for assignments and the final exam.
Teaching Staff
Dr Michael D. Myers
Professor of Information Systems and Head of Department
Department of Information Systems and Operations Management
University of Auckland Business School
Room 458, Owen G. Glenn Building
Tel: +649 9237468
Fax: +649 3737430
Email: m.myers@auckland.ac.nz
http://staff.business.auckland.ac.nz/mmyers
Learning Resources
A. Required Text
Myers, Michael D. Qualitative Research in Business & Management. Sage Publications,
2009.
B. Recommended Readings
1. Myers, Michael D. "Qualitative Research in Information Systems”, AISWorld
Section on Qualitative Research, www.qual.auckland.ac.nz
2. Myers, Michael D., and David Avison (eds.). Qualitative Research in Information
Systems: A Reader. Sage Publications, 2002.
3. Lee, A.S., Liebenau, J. and DeGross, J.I. (eds.). Information Systems and
Qualitative Research, Chapman and Hall, London, 1997.
4. Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research: Design and methods. Third edition. Sage
Publications, 2003.
5. Walsham, G. Interpreting Information Systems in Organizations. John Wiley and
Sons, Chichester, 1993.
6. Wolcott, H. Writing up Qualitative Research. Sage Publications, Thousands Oaks,
CA, 1990.
This course has a website hosted by the University of Auckland Library which includes
many of the required readings for the class. The website can be accessed via CECIL
or as follows:
http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/subjects/bus/course-pages/#isom
Students are also expected to read more widely including additional articles from any
recognised journal in IS or OM. Many useful citations can be obtained from the AIS ELibrary, the ACM Digital Library, Google Scholar, and other bibliographic databases
such as ABI/Inform, Science Direct or the Emerald Library. Most of these libraries and
databases are available online from the University of Auckland Library.
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Assessment
A.
Overview
Internal assessment
2 @ 25%
Final Exam
50%
50%
______
Total
B.
100%
Detail
Assignment 1
The first assignment involves writing a comprehensive review of a published piece of
research that uses one or more qualitative research methods. The review should address
the following issues, amongst others: The assumptions which informed the research; the
research question(s) being addressed; the unit(s) of analysis; the appropriateness of the
research method; the quality of the research method adopted; the validity and
usefulness of the results obtained; the overall contribution of the article.
Assignment 2
The second assignment involves developing and presenting a research proposal. Student
teams work together in a collaborative fashion to develop the proposal, and then make
an oral presentation to the class.
Final Exam
The final exam will test students’ knowledge and understanding. It will also assess
students’ competence in critical thinking and their ability to evaluate arguments in an
academic fashion.
The broad relationship between these assessments and the course learning outcomes is
as follows:
Learning Outcome
1
2
3
4
Assignment 1
X
X
X
Assignment 2
X
X
X
X
Final
Exam
X
X
3
Schedule
Note: The chapter numbers listed below are from the required textbook.
WEEK
TITLE
READINGS
1
3 March
Introduction
2
10 March
Fundamental Concepts of
Research
1. Chapters 1 and 2
2. Myers, Michael .D. "Qualitative Research in
Information Systems," ISWorld Section on
Qualitative Research,
www.qual.auckland.ac.nz
3. Markus, M.L. "Power, Politics, and MIS
Implementation," Communications of the
ACM (26) 1983, pp 430-444.
1. Chapters 3-5
2. Dubé, L., and Paré, G. "Rigor in
Information Systems Positivist Case
Research: Current Practices, Trends, and
Recommendations," MIS Quarterly (27:4),
2003, pp 597-636.
3. Klein, Heinz K. and Myers, Michael D. "A
Set of Principles for Conducting and
Evaluating Interpretive Field Studies in
Information Systems," MIS Quarterly
(23:1), 1999, pp. 67-93.
4. Myers, M.D., and Klein, H.K. "A Set of
Principles for Conducting Critical Research
in Information Systems," MIS Quarterly
(35:1), 2011, pp. 17-36.
3
17 March
Qualitative Research
Methods 1:
Action Research and Case
Study Research
1. Chapters 6 and 7
2. Baskerville, R. "Investigating Information
Systems with Action Research,"
Communications of the AIS (2:19) 1999,
AIS Library.
3. Sein, M., Henfridsson, O., Purao, S., Rossi,
M., and Lindgren, R. "Action Design
Research," MIS Quarterly (35:2), 2011,
pp. 37-56.
4. Kohli, R., and Kettinger, W.J. "Informating
the Clan: Controlling Physicians' Costs and
Outcomes," MIS Quarterly (28:3), 2004,
pp. 363-394.
5. Benbasat, I., Goldstein, D.K. and Mead, M.
"The Case Research Strategy in Studies of
Information Systems," MIS Quarterly
(11:3) 1987, pp. 369-386.
6. Walsham, G., and Sahay, S. "GIS for
District-Level Administration in India:
Problems and Opportunities," MIS
Quarterly (23:1) 1999, pp 39-65.
4
24 March
Design Research
Guest lecture: Associate Professor David
Sundaram
1. Nunamaker, J.J., Chen, M., Purdin, T.
“Systems development in information
systems research,” Journal of Management
Information Systems (7:3) 1991, pp 89–
4
106.
2. Hevner, A.R., March, S.T., Park, J., and
Ram, S. "Design Science in Information
Systems Research," MIS Quarterly (28:1)
2004, pp 75-105.
3. Bai, X., White, D., Sundaram, D., “Visual
Intelligence Density,” In: J. Yang et al.
(Eds.): UNISCON 2009, Springer Lecture
Notes in Business Information Processing
(LNBIP) 20, 2009, pp 280–291.
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31 March
Qualitative Research
Methods 2:
Ethnographic Research
1. Chapter 8
2. Myers, M.D. "Investigating Information
Systems with Ethnographic Research,"
Communication of the AIS (2) 1999, pp 120.
3. Myers, M.D., and Young, L.W. "Hidden
Agendas, Power, and Managerial
Assumptions in Information Systems
Development: An Ethnographic Study,"
Information Technology & People (10:3)
1997, pp 224-240.
4. Schultze, U. "A Confessional Account of an
Ethnography About Knowledge Work," MIS
Quarterly (24:1), 2000, pp 3-41.
6
7 April
Qualitative Research
Methods 3:
Grounded theory
1. Chapter 9
2. Bouty, I. "Interpersonal and interaction
influences on informal resource exchanges
between R&D researchers across
organizational boundaries," Academy of
Management Journal (43:1) 2000, pp 5065.
3. Orlikowski, W.J. "CASE Tools as
Organizational Change: Investigating
Incremental and Radical Changes in
Systems Development," MIS Quarterly
(17:3) 1993, pp 309-340.
14 April
Mid-Semester Break
No lecture
21 April
Mid-Semester Break
No lecture
Assignment 1 is due 26 April at 4:00 p.m.
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28 April
Qualitative data collection
1. Chapters 10-12
2. Myers, M.D., and Newman, M. "The
qualitative interview in IS research:
Examining the craft," Information and
Organization (17:1) 2007, pp 2-26.
8
5 May
Qualitative interpretation
and data analysis 1:
Overview and
Hermeneutics
1. Chapters 13-14
2. Myers, M.D. "Hermeneutics in Information
Systems Research," in: Social Theory and
Philosophy for Information Systems, J.
Mingers and L.P. Willcocks (eds.), John
Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 2004, pp. 103128.
3. Lee, A.S. "Electronic Mail as a Medium for
Rich Communication: An Empirical
Investigation Using Hermeneutic
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Interpretation," MIS Quarterly (18:2),
1994, pp 143-157.
9
12 May
Qualitative interpretation
and data analysis 2:
Semiotics, Narrative and
Metaphor
Guest lecture: Professor Margo BuchananOliver
10
19 May
Writing up and publishing
qualitative research
1. Chapters 17-19
2. Recommended Reading: Wolcott, H.
Writing up Qualitative Research. Sage
Publications, Thousands Oaks, CA, 1990.
11
26 May
Presentation of Research
Proposals
Assignment 2
12
2 June
Presentation of Research
Proposals
Assignment 2
1. Chapters 15-16
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CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
The University of Auckland regards cheating as a serious academic offence.
Plagiarism is a form of cheating. In coursework assignments submitted for marking,
plagiarism can occur if you use the work and ideas of others without explicit
acknowledgment. Work can be plagiarised from many sources, including books, journal
articles, the internet, and other students’ assignments.
The way of avoiding plagiarism is to reference your work properly. If you are in doubt
about how to reference properly, ask someone – your lecturers, tutors and the Student
Learning Centre are good places to start. Please refer to the following website for further
information about academic referencing: www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/
The document Guidelines: Conduct of Coursework provides further advice on how to
avoid plagiarism. It can be found at:
www.business.auckland.ac.nz/conductcoursework
The penalties for plagiarism can be severe, including losing some or all of the marks for
the assignment. Major offences can be sent to the University’s Discipline Committee,
where further penalties can be imposed.
THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE WITH COURSEWORK
While you are encouraged to improve your coursework writing skills and are permitted to
seek assistance from third parties you are advised that there are important limits on the
amount and type of assistance that can be given to you in completing your assignments,
including group work. Third parties include fellow students, reading groups, friends,
parents, SLC tutors, and paid-for professional editing services.
There is a set of guidelines which clearly indicates the type of advice and assistance that
can be given. If you are seeking the assistance of any third party you are required to
give a copy of the guidelines to the person prior to them helping or assisting you.
You are also required to only seek and accept help using a printed version of your work,
not an electronic version. You must keep a copy of this printed version and produce it if
required.
A copy of the guidelines is available at:
www.business.auckland.ac.nz/thirdpartyassistance
HELP WITH ACADEMIC REFERENCING
Acknowledgement of sources is an important aspect of academic writing. The University’s
Referen©ite website www.cite.auckland.ac.nz provides students with a one-stop online
resource for academic referencing needs. Referen©ite explains the essentials of
referencing and how to avoid plagiarism. It also includes practical tools to help students
reference correctly, use references effectively in writing, and gives fast access to some
major reference formats with examples.
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