The DOI matches its Crossref record; 42 of the 42 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A Critical Perspective on Action Research as a Method for Information Systems Research
Abstract
This paper reviews the origins, techniques and roles associated with action research into information systems (IS). Many consider the approach to be the paragon of post-positivist research methods, yet it has a cloudy history among the social sciences. The paper summarizes the rigorous approach to action research and suggests certain domains of ideal use (such as systems development methodology). For those faced with conducting, reviewing or examining action research, the paper discusses various problems, opportunities and strategies.
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“Action research is a core methodology that would support these aims [6]”
From Fairness and Accountability Design Needs for Algorithmic Support in High-Stakes Public Sector Decision-Making (2018) · cites this paper as [6]
Citations
Cites
Wagner, H. R., Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1968) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2575405 · Cited by 46,525
Organizational Learning: A Theory of Action Perspective
Argyris, C., & Schön, D. A. (1997) · Reis · doi:10.2307/40183951 · Cited by 11,113 · cited 1×
“First, what Argyris and Sch ” n (1978) called `double-loop learning’, the restructuring of organizational norms to re¯ ect the new knowledge gained by the organization during the research.”
BackgroundSystems Thinking, Systems Practice
Checkland, P. B. (1981) · Cumulative Index of Computer Aided Architectural Design · Cited by 6,256
The Case Research Strategy in Studies of Information Systems
Benbasat, I., Goldstein, D. K., & Mead, M. (1987) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.2307/248684 · Cited by 4,716
Systems thinking, systems practice
(1982) · European Journal of Operational Research · doi:10.1016/0377-2217(82)90206-5 · Cited by 3,579
Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions
Orlikowski, W. J., & Baroudi, J. J. (1991) · Information Systems Research · doi:10.1287/isre.2.1.1 · Cited by 3,526
Qualitative Methods in Management Research.
Toomer, E., Bowen, K., & Gummesson, E. (1993) · Journal of the Operational Research Society · doi:10.2307/2584051 · Cited by 2,306
Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research
(2004) · The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods · doi:10.4135/9781412950589.n846 · Cited by 2,196
An Assessment of the Scientific Merits of Action Research
Susman, G. I., & Evered, R. D. (1978) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2392581 · Cited by 2,151
Field Theory in Social Science
Reed, R., & Lewin, K. (1951) · The American Catholic Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/3707800 · Cited by 2,139
Research works printed but not linked: 11
- Argyris C., 1985, Action Science
- Baskerville R., 1991, Information Systems Research Arena of the 90s
- Checkland P., 1990, Soft Systems Methodology in Practice
- Glaser B.G., 1967, The Discovery of Grounded Theory, Strategies for Qualitative Research
- Jenkins M., 1985, Research Methods in Information Systems, 103
- Jönsson S., 1991, Information Systems Research: Contemporary Approaches and Emergent Traditions, 371
- Keen P., 1991, Information Systems Research: Contemporary Approaches and Emergent Traditions, 27
- Klein H., 1991, Information Systems Research: Contemporary Approaches and Emergent Traditions, 1
- Schein E., 1969, Process Consultation: Its Role in Organizational Development
- Straub D., 1991, Information Systems Research: Contemporary Approaches and Emergent Traditions, 103
- Warmington A., 1980, Journal of Applied Systems Analysis, 7, 23
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Guidelines for conducting and reporting case study research in software engineering
Runeson, P., & Höst, M. (2009) · Empirical Software Engineering · doi:10.1007/s10664-008-9102-8 · Cited by 3,862
Action research for operations management
Coughlan, P., & Coghlan, D. (2002) · International Journal of Operations & Production Management · doi:10.1108/01443570210417515 · Cited by 1,534
Investigating Information Systems with Action Research
Baskerville, R. (1999) · Communications of the Association for Information Systems · doi:10.17705/1cais.00219 · Cited by 1,123
Self-citationGuide to Advanced Empirical Software Engineering
Shull, F. J., Sjøberg, D. I. K., & Singer, J. (2007) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-84800-044-5 · Cited by 1,016
Principles of canonical action research
Davison, R. M., Martinsons, M. G., & Kock, N. (2004) · Information Systems Journal · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2575.2004.00162.x · Cited by 836
Metadata
- Authors
- Baskerville, R. L., & Wood-Harper, A. T.
- Affiliations
- Copenhagen Business School (DK)
- University of Salford (GB)
- Venue
- Journal of Information Technology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1996-09
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 235-246
- ISSN
- 0268-3962 (ISSN-L)
- 1466-4437
- OpenAlex
- W4240661623
- Cited by
- 390
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 11.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Information Technology (publishedVersion)
- Journal of the Association for Information Systems (submittedVersion)
- CBS Research Portal (Copenhagen Business School) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management Information Systems › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Appreciative Inquiry and Organizational Change
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Information Systems Education and Curriculum Development
- Keywords
- action research, information systems research, post-positivism, research methodology critique, system development methodology, history of action research
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