Baruch College Zicklin School of Business
CUNY Ph.D. in Business Program
Information Systems

CIS U822 - Research Methods II:
Qualitative Research in Information Systems

This course helps develop knowledge and skills in the application and use of qualitative research methods as they relate to Information Systems (IS). The course provides a survey of the methodological literature on qualitative research methods paired with appropriate article-length exemplars in the IS domain. Methodologies studied include case study, ethnography, content analysis, and protocol analysis. Students acquire skills in developing a research strategy, understanding and using a grounded theory approach, triangulating methods for strengthening research findings, and supporting methodological choices. The course enables students to identify qualitative research methods prevalent in IS research; formulate research design, data analysis, and evaluation techniques for research; and evaluate qualitative research of others in the IS area.

COURSE OUTLINE

• Overview of Information Systems Research Methodologies
  Choosing Appropriate Research Methodologies
  The Case for Qualitative Research
  
• Developing a Research Approach
  Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Methods
  Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research
  
• Meta-Ethnography, Descriptive/Interpretive Research
  Synthesizing Qualitative Studies
  
• Ethnography Issues
  
• Case Study Issues
  
• Data Collection Techniques, Field Research Methods
  Interviewing
  Questionnaires
  Participant Observation
  Systematic Observation
  Unobtrusive Measures
  
• Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques
  Coding
  Content Analysis
  
• Ethical Issues in Analysis
  
• Triangulation and Research Design
  Mixing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
  Drawing and Verifying Conclusions
  
• Writing Up Qualitative Research
  
• Evaluation of Qualitative IS Research

PARTIAL LIST OF RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Agar, Michael H. Speaking of Ethnography. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1986.

Jorgensen, Danny L. Participant Observation: A Methodology for Human Studies. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1989.

Kirk, Jerome and Marc L. Miller. Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1986.

Krippendorff, Klaus. Content Analysis: An Introduction to its Methodology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1980.

Miles, Matthew B. and A. Michael Huberman. Qualitative Data Analysis. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1994.

Noblit, George W. and R. Dwight Hare. Meta-Ethnography: Synthesizing Qualitative Studies. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1988.

Petterman, David M. Ethnography: Step by Step. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1987.

Wolcott, Harry F. Writing Up Qualitative Research. Newbury Park: CA: Sage Publications, 1990.

Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research: Design and Methods. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1994.

For more information about this course, please contact Professor Dorothy G. Dologite, CIS Department, Baruch College Zicklin School of Business. Email: Dorothy_Dologite@baruch.cuny.edu

Please Visit Our Sites:
INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH WORKSHOP GROUP || COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT
PH.D. PROGRAM IN BUSINESS || ZICKLIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS || BERNARD M. BARUCH COLLEGE