Doing interpretive research
Abstract
Interpretive research in information systems (IS) is now a well-established part of the field. However, there is a need for more material on how to carry out such work from inception to publication. I published a paper a decade ago (Walsham, 1995) which addressed the nature of interpretive IS case studies and methods for doing such research. The current paper extends this earlier contribution, with a widened scope of all interpretive research in IS, and through further material on carrying out fieldwork, using theory and analysing data. In addition, new topics are discussed on constructing and justifying a research contribution, and on ethical issues and tensions in the conduct of interpretive work. The primary target audience for the paper is less-experienced IS researchers, but I hope that the paper will also stimulate reflection for the more-experienced IS researcher and be of relevance to interpretive researchers in other social science fields.
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The author's data collection and analysis is centered on respondent-led accounts and triangulated with perspectives from other respondents, observation in the field and secondary data.
“This method, termed a “historiography of images” in my PhD research (Masiero 2014), inspires my data collection and analysis, which is centered on respondent-led accounts of the phenomena under discussion and triangulated with perspectives from other respondents, observation in the field and secondary data according to the core principles of interpretive research (Walsham 2006).”
From Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System (2020) · cites this paper as Walsham 2006
Interpretive research is premised on the position that our knowledge of reality, rather than an appraisal of a unique and objective truth, is a social construction by human actors.
“Interpretive research is premised on the position that our knowledge of reality, rather than an appraisal of a unique and objective truth, is a social construction by human actors (Walsham 2006).”
From Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System (2020) · cites this paper as Walsham 2006
To minimize salience bias and maintain critical distance, the transcriptions were cross-checked with the second author and a shared meaning was generated through multiple interactions with empirical data, theory, and the emergent coding schema.
“On the other hand, to minimize salience bias as well as to maintain a critical distance between the personal use of Slack apps and integrations of the researchers and the views of interviewees, we cross-checked the transcriptions with the second author (not an active user of enterprise messengers) and generated a shared meaning through multiple interactions in which we engaged back and forth with”
From How affordances of chatbots cross the chasm between social and traditional enterprise systems (2020) · cites this paper as Walsham 2006
Cites
The Discovery of Grounded Theory; Strategies for Qualitative Research
Glaser, B. G., Strauss, A. L., & Strutzel, E. (1968) · Nursing Research · doi:10.1097/00006199-196807000-00014 · Cited by 39,449 · see citing works
Steps toward an ecology of infrastructure: Design and access for large information spaces
Star, S. L., & Ruhleder, K. (1996) · Information Systems Research · doi:10.1287/isre.7.1.111 · Cited by 3,238 · see citing works
Sarker, S., & Sahay, S. (2004) · European Journal of Information Systems · doi:10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000485 · Cited by 309 · see citing works
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Sarker, S., Sarker, S., Sahaym, A., & Bjørn-Andersen, N. (2012) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.2307/41410419 · Cited by 367 · see citing works
Augmenting the algorithm: Emerging human-in-the-loop work configurations
Grønsund, T., & Aanestad, M. (2020) · The Journal of Strategic Information Systems · doi:10.1016/j.jsis.2020.101614 · Cited by 364 · see citing works
“Using a sparse form of open coding (Walsham, 2006) of our field notes, we sought out patterns and selected empir ically informed themes such as “secrecy” and “obscuring”, all relating to episodes of questioning the validity of external data.”
BackgroundMethodJones, M., & Alony, I. (2011) · International Journal of Doctoral Studies · doi:10.28945/1429 · Cited by 246 · see citing works
“As Walsham (1995, 2006) discussed, socially constructed knowledge in IS requires an interpretive approach to inquiry; this renders its interpretation as subjective and value-laden (Galal, 2001).”
BackgroundInfluentialCho, S., Mathiassen, L., & Nilsson, A. (2008) · European Journal of Information Systems · doi:10.1057/ejis.2008.49 · Cited by 161 · see citing works
Ranerup, A., & Henriksen, H. Z. (2022) · Social Science Computer Review · doi:10.1177/0894439320980434 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Value positions viewed through the lens of automated decision-making: The case of social services
Ranerup, A., & Henriksen, H. Z. (2019) · Government Information Quarterly · doi:10.1016/j.giq.2019.05.004 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Huang, P.-Y., Pan, S. L., & Ouyang, T. H. (2014) · European Journal of Information Systems · doi:10.1057/ejis.2014.4 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
How affordances of chatbots cross the chasm between social and traditional enterprise systems
Stoeckli, E., Dremel, C., Uebernickel, F., & Brenner, W. (2020) · Electronic Markets · doi:10.1007/s12525-019-00359-6 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System
Masiero, S. (2020) · South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal · doi:10.4000/samaj.6459 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
“Interpretive research is premised on the position that our knowledge of reality, rather than an appraisal of a unique and objective truth, is a social construction by human actors (Walsham 2006).”
- Authors
- Walsham, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Walsham, Geoff
- ORCID
- Walsham, Geoff
- Venue
- European Journal of Information Systems
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2006-06
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 320-330
- ISSN
- 0960-085X (ISSN-L)
- 1476-9344
- OpenAlex
- W2126070475
- Semantic Scholar
- f15a30cdec24c742d530f4c4ed03830ff124a97d
- Cited by
- 2,217
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 77 · 2025: 93 · 2024: 98 · 2023: 133 · 2022: 112 · 2021: 141 · 2020: 150 · 2019: 138 · 2018: 129 · 2017: 104 · 2016: 132 · 2015: 142 · 2014: 142 · 2013: 148 · 2012: 144
- FWCI
- 129.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Information Systems (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Universitetet i Oslo
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Keywords
- interpretive research, information systems research, case studies, fieldwork, theory application, data analysis, scientific contributions, research ethics, research design
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