Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2012
Publication Source
MIS Quarterly
Abstract
Critical realism is emerging as a viable philosophical paradigm for conducting social science research, and has been proposed as an alternative to the more prevalent paradigms of positivism and interpretivism. Few papers, however, have offered clear guidance for applying this philosophy to actual research methodologies. Under critical realism, a causal explanation for a given phenomenon is inferred by explicitly identifying the means by which structural entities and contextual conditions interact to generate a given set of events. Consistent with this view of causality, we propose a set of methodological principles for conducting and evaluating critical realism-based explanatory case study research within the information systems field. The principles are derived directly from the ontological and epistemological assumptions of critical realism. We demonstrate the utility of each of the principles through examples drawn from existing critical realist case studies. The article concludes by discussing the implications of critical realism based research for IS research and practice.
Inclusive pages
787-810
ISBN/ISSN
0276-7783
Document Version
Published Version
Copyright
Copyright © 2012, Society for Information Management
Publisher
Society for Information Management
Volume
36
Issue
3
Peer Reviewed
yes
eCommons Citation
Wynn, Donald E. and Williams, Clay K., "Principles for Conducting Critical Realist Case Study Research in Information Systems" (2012). MIS/OM/DS Faculty Publications. 62.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/mis_fac_pub/62
Included in
Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Databases and Information Systems Commons, Management Information Systems Commons, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons, Operations and Supply Chain Management Commons, Other Computer Sciences Commons
Comments
This document available for download upon expiration of the publisher's required embargo period is provided in compliance with the publisher's policy on self-archiving. Permission documentation is on file.