The Narrative Research Method
THE NARRATIVE RESEARCH METHOD
The use of narrative research in IS has been limited although there have been some recent publications (Alvarez & Urla, 2002; Davidson, 1997; Dube & Robey, 1999, Hirschheim & Newman, 1991). Table 2 lists some of these studies. However, the clear understanding of how to conduct, interpret and describe narrative research in the context of information systems does not exist and is being provided in this paper. Here, we explain the theoretical foundations and key elements of narrative research and present an exemplar of the application of this method.
Table 2. Narrative Research in IS Authors | Research Title | Publication | Bartis, E., Mitev, N. (2008) | A multiple narrative approach to information systems failure: a successful system that failed | European Journal of Information Systems, (17:2), p. 112 | bJoseph, D., Kok-Yee Ng; Koh, C., Soon Ang. (2007) | Information Technology Professionals: A Narrative Review, Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling, and Model Development | MIS Quarterly, (31:3), p547-577 | Kuechler, W. L., Vaishnavi, V. (2006) | So, Talk To Me: The Effect of Explicit Goals on The Comprehension of Business Process Narratives | MIS Quarterly, (30:4), p961-A16 | Chae, B., Poole, M.S. (2005) | The surface of emergence in systems development: agency, institutions, and large-scale information systems | European Journal of Information Systems, (14:1), p. 19 | Roy, M. C., Lerch, F. J. (1996) | Overcoming Ineffective Mental Representations in Base-rate Problems | Information Systems Research, (7:2), p233-247 |
The basic idea behind narrative research method is that all people can tell stories. Storytelling is a universal social activity that we are taught as children learning to speak. For the purpose of studying socio-economic development, an especially appealing attribute of (narrative research) is the way in which it can display the assets of those usually considered to have none. A lack of
The use of narrative research in IS has been limited although there have been some recent publications (Alvarez & Urla, 2002; Davidson, 1997; Dube & Robey, 1999, Hirschheim & Newman, 1991). Table 2 lists some of these studies. However, the clear understanding of how to conduct, interpret and describe narrative research in the context of information systems does not exist and is being provided in this paper. Here, we explain the theoretical foundations and key elements of narrative research and present an exemplar of the application of this method.
Table 2. Narrative Research in IS Authors | Research Title | Publication | Bartis, E., Mitev, N. (2008) | A multiple narrative approach to information systems failure: a successful system that failed | European Journal of Information Systems, (17:2), p. 112 | bJoseph, D., Kok-Yee Ng; Koh, C., Soon Ang. (2007) | Information Technology Professionals: A Narrative Review, Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling, and Model Development | MIS Quarterly, (31:3), p547-577 | Kuechler, W. L., Vaishnavi, V. (2006) | So, Talk To Me: The Effect of Explicit Goals on The Comprehension of Business Process Narratives | MIS Quarterly, (30:4), p961-A16 | Chae, B., Poole, M.S. (2005) | The surface of emergence in systems development: agency, institutions, and large-scale information systems | European Journal of Information Systems, (14:1), p. 19 | Roy, M. C., Lerch, F. J. (1996) | Overcoming Ineffective Mental Representations in Base-rate Problems | Information Systems Research, (7:2), p233-247 |
The basic idea behind narrative research method is that all people can tell stories. Storytelling is a universal social activity that we are taught as children learning to speak. For the purpose of studying socio-economic development, an especially appealing attribute of (narrative research) is the way in which it can display the assets of those usually considered to have none. A lack of