Scientific Research in Information Systems

This book introduces higher-degree research students and early career academics to scientific research as occurring in the field of information systems and adjacent fields, such as computer science, management science, organization science, and software engineering. Instead of focusing primarily on research methods as many other textbooks do, it covers the entire research process, from start to finish, placing particular emphasis on understanding the cognitive and behavioural aspects of research, such as motivation, modes of inquiry, theorising, planning for research, planning for publication, and ethical challenges in research. Comprehensive but also succinct and compact, the book guides beginning researchers in their quest to do scholarly work and to assist them in developing their own answers and strategies over the course of their work.

Jan Recker explains in this book the fundamental concepts that govern scientific research and then moves on to introduce the basicsteps every researcher undertakes: choosing research questions, developing theory, building a research design, employing research methods, and finally writing academic papers. He also covers essentials of ethical conduct of scientific research. This second edition contains major updates on all these elements plus significant expansions on relevant research methods such as design research and computational methods, a rewritten and extended chapter on theory development, and expansions to the chapters on research methods, scientific publishing, and research ethics. A companion website provides pedagogical materials and instructions for using this book in teaching.

Praise for the first edition:

It focuses on the entire research process from start to finish and provides a guide not only for the methods, but for the ‘process of learning the life of a researcher.’ This well-written and easy-to-read book consists of eight chapters, divided into three parts. Each chapter ends with a list of references for further reading on each subject, totaling 200 in all. … The book is intended primarily for doctoral students and young scholars in the field of information systems. Alexei Botchkarev, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

…Gerade junge Doktorandinnen und Doktoranden werden sehr von diesem Buch profitieren … allen Doktoranden in der Wirtschaftsinformatik, besonders am Anfang ihres wissenschaftlichen Projektes, sowie ihren Betreuern zur Verwendung in Kursen des Doktorandenstudiums. Roland Holten, Goethe University, Germany

Für Wirtschaftsinformatiker eine Pflichtklektüre. Egal ob Bachelorarbeit, Masterarbeit oder erst während der Promotion. Dieses Buch sollte man gelesen haben! Volker Frehe, Osnabrück University, Germany

Great overview and useful advice, particularly about writing and publishing papers. Amanda Helliwell, University of Canberra, Australia

Jan Recker is AIS fellow, Alexander-von-Humboldt fellow, chaired professor for information systems and digital innovation at the University of Hamburg, and adjunct professor at the Queensland University of Technology Business School. He is one of the most published information systems academics of all time and has held a variety of senior editorial appointments at scientific journals. He also publishes a podcast called “this IS research”.