Invitation to Research
Learning Materials

Roger Clarke

Principal, Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, Canberra

Visiting Fellow, Department of Computer Science, Australian National University

Draft of 24 November 2002

© Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 2002

This document is at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/Res/InvLMatls.html

This document supports http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/Res/InvIndex.html

This document is supported by http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/Res/InvRefs.html

This document cites, and where possible links to, works that directly support the topics presented in the seminars. A complementary document provides further references.

Contents

• Key Insights from the Philosophy of Science
• Research Techniques
• The Research Process
• Case Study: Challenges in Research into eBusiness
• The Research Product
• Other Resources

Key Insights from the Philosophy of Science
* Aspects of Epistemology and Ontology

Clarke R. (1992-) 'Fundamentals of 'Information Systems', at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/SOS/ISFundas.html

Clarke R. (1992-) 'Knowledge', at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/SOS/Know.html

* The Nature and Process of Science

Text

* Alternative Research Approaches and Traditions
The Anti-Positivist Movement

Hirschheim R. A. (1985) 'Information Systems Epistemology: An Historical Perspective' in 'Research Methods in Information Systems' Mumford E., Hirschheim R., Fitzgerald G. & WoodHarper T. (eds.), NorthHolland, 1985, p. 1335, at http://www.bauer.uh.edu/~rudy/ISEpistemology.pdf

Text

Hermeneutics

Gallagher S. (2000) 'Four schools of hermeneutical thought':

• Conservative
• Critical
• Dialogical
• Radical

Research Techniques
General Overview

SSRC (2001) 'Recommended Readings On Research Methods' International Predissertation Fellowship Program, 2001 Fellows' Conference, [U.S.] Social Science Research Council, 2001, at http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/DissPropWorkshop/resources/SSRCresearch.pdf

Literature Review

Deakin (2001) 'The Literature Review', Deakin Uni., at http://www.deakin.edu.au/library/findout/research/litrev.php

Clarke R. (2000) 'Disciplined Literature Reviews', at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/SOS/DLR.html

Cornell (2001) 'Critically Analyzing Information Sources', Cornell Uni., at http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill26.htm

Scenarios

GBN Web-site on 'Scenarios', at http://www.gbn.org/public/gbnstory/scenarios/

Scientific Techniques

Helberg C. (2001) 'Statistics on the Web', 2001, at http://my.execpc.com/~helberg/statistics.html

Statsoft (2001) 'Statistical Advisor', 2001, at http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/advisor.html

Interpretivist Techniques

Newsted P., Huff S. & Munro M. (2002) 'Survey Instruments in IS' MISQ Discovery (December 1998), at http://www.ucalgary.ca/~newsted/surveys.html

Myers M. (2002) 'General References on Qualitative Research' MISQ Discovery (May 1997), at http://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz/general.htm

Focus Groups

Clarke R. (1999) 'Focus Groups', at http://www.xamax.com.au/Res/FocusGrps.html

Techniques at the Boundary of Science and Interpretivism

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Engineering Techniques

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The Research Process
* The Formulation of Research Questions

Hord B. (1995) 'What are the advantages of using research questions?', at http://www.hccs.cc.tx.us/system/library/Center/Lobby/Quest1.html

* The Construction of a Research Method

Text

* The Discipline and Skill of Academic Writing

Text

* The Ethics of Research

Clarke R. (2000) 'Ethical Issues in the Preparation and Submission of Research Papers in the I.S. Discipline', at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/SOS/ResPubEth.html

Freed-Taylor M. (1994) 'Ethical Considerations in European Cross-National Research' Int'l Soc. Sci. J. 142 (1994) 523-532, at http://www.unesco.org/most/ethissj.htm

HHS (2001) 'General requirements for informed consent' [U.S.] Department Of Health And Human Services, National Institutes Of Health, Office For Protection From Research Risks, para. 46.116-117, at http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm#46.116

Case Study: Challenges in Research into eBusiness

Clarke R. (2000) 'Appropriate Research Methods for Electronic Commerce', April 2000, at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/EC/ResMeth.html

Clarke R. (2001) 'If e-Business is Different Then So is Research in e-Business', Proc. IFIP TC8 Working Conference on E-Commerce/E-Business, Salzburg, 22-23 June 2001, at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/EC/EBR0106.html

The Research Product
* Guidelines for Proposals

Clarke R. (2002) 'The Dissertation Proposal' November 2002, at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/Res/InvProposal.html

* Guidelines for Dissertations

Clarke R. (2002) 'The Dissertation' November 2002, at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/Res/InvDiss.html

Other Resources

Deakin (2001) 'General Reference Resources' Deakin Uni., at http://www.deakin.edu.au/library/findout/reference/index.php

Navigation

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Created: 13 October 2002

Last Amended: 24 November 2002

These community service pages are a joint offering of the Australian National University (which provides the infrastructure), and Roger Clarke (who provides the content).