Work

The mysterious case of the missing paradigm: a review of critical information systems research 1991–2001

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: . In this journal, Chen and Hirschheim have provided a historical analysis of positivist and interpretivist research paradigms and methodologies in the 10 years following the much cited work of Orlikowski and Baroudi. In this paper, we investigate the mysterious case of the missing paradigm – that of the critical approach to information systems (IS) research. We take Chen and Hirschheim’s survey as our starting point and aim to fill the gap left by the absence of the critical paradigm in their analysis and make some criticisms of their method. Recent years have seen the growth of IS research that consciously adopts a critical perspective. This paper charts the development of critical IS research over the period of 1991–2001, adding some comments on more recent developments. We conclude by critically reflecting on the current development of critical research in the field of IS.

Source: Information Systems Journal

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2575.2007.00230.x

Authors: Helen Richardson, Bruce Robinson

Institution: University of Salford

Language: English

Topic: Information Systems Theories and Implementation

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care

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