Research Seminar: Methods and Theories in Information Systems Research

  • Type: Seminar (S)
  • Chair: Information Systems & Service Design
  • Semester: SS 2016
  • Time:

    2016-04-28
    14:00 - 17:00 bi-weekly
    11.40 Room 202

  • Start: 18.04.2016
  • Lecturer:

    Prof. Dr. Alexander Mädche

  • ECTS: 3
  • Lv-No.: 2540553

Lecture Description

The seminar “Methods and Theories in Information Systems Research” (ManTIS) is designed to provide students with an opportunity to build up basic theoretical and methodological skills needed to conceptualize, conduct, and communicate their own research. In doing so, ManTIS familiarizes students with the essential triad consisting of topic, methods, and theories. Hence, ManTIS is a seminar well suited to help students preparing themselves for an academic thesis in the IS discipline (e.g., Master or Doctoral Thesis).

To produce valid and reliable results it is important to have a sound understanding of theories and methods that explain social phenomena tackling questions of how technology is used and designed by humans in organizations. Theories provide the researcher a sound basis by summarizing current knowledge and allowing for a precise investigation and definition of their topic’s underlying phenomenon. Complementary to this, methods afford the student with the ability to produce reliable results which allow her/him to derive both meaningful and trustworthy conclusions. This way they can make sure that their results are not only interesting, but also scientifically valid.

To support students in their preparation for their theses, the seminar will introduce the most common methods used in business research by looking at examples from the IS discipline. This includes how to carry out a literature review as well as qualitative (e.g., case study research) and quantitative methods of empirical research. In addition, the concept of design research will be introduced.

 

Learning Objectives

The students get

  • ability to understand the relevance of methods and theories in meaningful research
  • overview of most common methods and theories used in IS research
  • ability to prepare and execute own research project (e.g., master thesis)
  • knowledge of the basic quality criteria for scientific research

 

Lecture Content

  • Foundations: Topic, Methods and Theories
  • Scientific Writing & Publishing
  • Literature Review
  • Qualitative Research
  • Quantitative Research
  • Design Research

Course Schedule

Date Time Location Session Deliverable
April, 28th
2016
2pm-5pm 11.40
Room 202
Organizational Information -
Foundations and Theories

-

May, 12th
2016
2pm-5pm 11.40
Room 202
Foundations: Methods, Scientific Writing and Publishing -
Method I: Literature Review - Introduction -
May, 19th
2016
2pm-5pm 11.40
Room 202
Method I: Literature Review - Reading-based Discussion Paper Review
Literature Review
Method II: Quantitative Methods - Introduction -
June, 9th
2016
2pm-5pm 11.40
Room 202
Method II: Quantitative Methods - Reading-based Discussion Paper Review
Quantitative Methods
Method III: Qualitative Methods - Introduction -
June, 23rd
2016
2pm-5pm 11.40
Room 202
Method III: Qualitative Methods - Reading-based Discussion Paper Review
Qualitative Methods
Method IV: Design Science Research - Introduction -
July, 7th
2016
2pm-5pm 11.40
Room 202
Method IV: Design Science Research - Reading-based Discussion Paper Review
Design Science Research
Q&A / Wrap Up
-

 

Course Requirements

This course is offered to all Master students enrolled in the Wirtschaftsingeneurwesen or Informationswirtschaft program of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). There are no prerequisites for atting this course.

PhD students are also allowed to attend the course. However, to prevent biases in the garding of students, PhD students are required to act as possive guest student. As there are limited seat for PhD students, pelease register by writing an email to Dr. Silvia Schacht.

 

Course Grading

The grading of the research seminar is based on the review deliverables (70%) and students' interactive discussions (30%) within the course.

 

Course Materials

Students will be provided with all necessary materials at the beginning of each session. Therefore the material will be uploaded in the ILIAS Portal. Readings are available through the university's electronic library resources. The reading material to be used in this class provides students with both content and background for the topics introduced and discussed in the course. Optional readings are introduced as part of the lecture and provide students with the opportunity to extend their understanding beyond the material discussed in class. These readings are also important references that can be used to justify methodological and theoretical choices in the students’ research projects (e.g., Master thesis). Further details for preparation will be provided to students in class.

 

Contact

For registration, submission of presentation materials, and organizational questions please contact Dr. Silvia Schacht.