Inclusive or Exclusive? Methodological Practice and Policy for Organisationally and Socially Relevant IS Research

In this research essay, we argue that IS researchers demonstrate a high degree of methodological exclusiveness in their preference for a relatively small selection of research methods that primarily follow the positivist tradition. Such exclusiveness is unethical because it severely and unreasonably limits the extent to which IS research and researchers can contribute both to pressing organisational problems and the scholarly literature. We synthesise our position in four arguments that guide our discussion of the nature and consequences of methodological exclusiveness as well as possible solutions. We end the paper with an exposition of steps that could be taken to address the current situation.