The Great Quantitative/Qualitative Debate: The Past, Present, and Future of Positivism and Post-Positivism in Information Systems

Over the past 20 years there has been significant progress in quantitative and qualitative research in information systems (Lee et al. 1997; Myers 1997; Myers and Avison 2002). There has also been much progress in our understanding of the contributions that can be made by both positivist and post-positivist (i.e., interpretive and critical) perspectives. The purpose of this panel is to review the progress that has been made and to suggest the way forward for the future. The members of the panel will discuss the proposition that there has been progress in IS (measured by the effectiveness, explanatory power, and professionalism) in quantitative/qualitative and positivist/post-positivist research methods. As part of this discussion they will debate whether some of the progress has come from a greater openness to pluralistic research methods with the field of IS. They will also debate how and to what extent such pluralism is possible. Michael Myers will begin by outlining the motivation for the debate. He will then introduce the panel members.