Real-izing information systems: critical realism as an underpinning philosophy for information systems
Information and OrganizationPublished 1 April 2004
John Mingers
Citations422
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.80
SNIP1.83
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TL;DR
Critical realism is proposed as an underpinning philosophy that has the potential to overcome both sets of difficulties within the underlying philosophies of science—particularly positivism and interpretivism.
Abstract
The paper begins by pointing out the diversity of philosophical positions within IS, and the range of reactions to this diversity. It then discusses problems within the underlying philosophies of science—particularly positivism and interpretivism. With this as a background, the paper proposes critical realism as an underpinning philosophy that has the potential to overcome both sets of difficulties. The theoretical arguments are practically illustrated by critiques of (positivist) statistical analysis and (interpretivist) soft systems methodology.
Keywords
Social SciencesDecision Sciences
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