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The mysterious case of the missing paradigm: a review of critical information systems research 1991–2001

Richardson, H; Robinson, BA

Authors

H Richardson

BA Robinson



Abstract

In this journal, Chen and Hirschheim have provided a historical analysis of positivist and interpretivist research paradigms and methodologies in the 10 years following the much cited work of Orlikowski and Baroudi. In this paper, we investigate the mysterious case of the missing paradigm – that of the critical approach to information systems (IS) research. We take Chen and Hirschheim’s survey as our starting point and aim to fill the gap left by the absence of the critical paradigm in their analysis and make some criticisms of their method. Recent years have seen the growth of IS research that consciously adopts a critical perspective. This paper charts the development of critical IS research over the period of 1991–2001, adding some comments on more recent developments. We conclude by critically reflecting on the current development of critical research in the field of IS.

Citation

Richardson, H., & Robinson, B. (2007). The mysterious case of the missing paradigm: a review of critical information systems research 1991–2001. Information Systems Journal, 17(3), 251-270. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2575.2007.00230.x

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jul 1, 2007
Deposit Date Jan 5, 2009
Journal Information Systems Journal
Print ISSN 1350-1917
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 17
Issue 3
Pages 251-270
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2575.2007.00230.x
Keywords positivist and interpretivist research, critical paradigm, critical information systems research
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2575.2007.00230.x



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