Positivist Information Systems Action Research: Methodological Issues

We discuss the cyclical nature of action research (AR) in information systems (IS) and contrast it with other research approaches commonly used in IS. Often those who conduct AR investigations build on their professional expertise to provide a valuable service to a client organization while at the same time furthering knowledge in their academic fields. AR is usually conducted using an interpretive research approach, but many doctoral IS students, as well as junior and senior IS researchers, are likely to be expected to conduct research in a predominantly positivist fashion, even as they are determined to conduct an AR study that builds on their professional expertise. We argue that these IS researchers can successfully employ AR in their investigations as long as they are aware of the methodological obstacles that they may face, and have the means to overcome them. The following key obstacles are discussed: low statistical power, common-method bias, and multilevel influences. We also discuss two important advantages of employing AR in Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/mmis Journal of Management Information Systems / 2017, Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 754–767. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN 0742–1222 (print) / ISSN 1557–928X (online) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2017.1373007 D ow nl oa de d by [ T ex as A & M I nt er na tio na l U ni ve rs ity ] at 0 6: 25 1 4 N ov em be r 20 17 positivist IS investigations, from a positivist perspective: AR’s support for the identification of omitted variables and J-curve relationships. The study’s contribution is expected to enhance our knowledge of AR and foster its practice.