Abstract
Action research (AR) has developed extensively since the 1970s. We reviewed the AR literature within the information systems (IS) discipline and found 16 different methods, which constitutes a problematic situation for researchers. We describe and critique those methods before integrating their strengths to improve the AR method that is most frequently practiced in IS: canonical action research (CAR). The existing set of principles and criteria for CAR is modified and elaborated to enhance the foundation for undertaking AR consistently. We discuss the general implications of this improved form of the method, which we name integrated action research (IAR). We specifically suggest how IAR can be used to investigate the application of disruptive technologies, including those that embody artificial intelligence and enable more flexible and socially distanced work.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 851-873 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | Journal of the Association for Information Systems |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2021 |
Research Keywords
- Action Research
- Artificial Intelligence
- Canonical Action Research
- Disruptive Technologies
- Future Research Opportunities
- Integrated Action Research
- Research Methods
Publisher's Copyright Statement
- COPYRIGHT TERMS OF DEPOSITED FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION FILE: Davison, Robert M.; Martinsons, Maris G.; and Malaurent, Julien (2021) "Research Perspectives: Improving Action Research by Integrating Methods," Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 22(3), 851-873. DOI: 10.17705/1jais.00682 Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/jais/vol22/iss3/1