1. Action research and IS 7150 William A. Sodeman, Ph.D. wsodeman@hpu.edu http://billso.com Summer 2007 William A. Sodeman, Ph.D. wsodeman@hpu.edu http://billso.com Summer 2007

2. What will you do after you earn your MSIS degree? Become a consultant? Start your own company? Become a manager? Become a consultant? Start your own company? Become a manager? Sit in a cubicle? Hide in the server room?

3. What will you do after you earn your MSIS degree? Find an interesting career Keep learning A masters degree is your opportunity to become a lifelong learner Earn another graduate degree Find an interesting career Keep learning A masters degree is your opportunity to become a lifelong learner Earn another graduate degree

4. The MSIS professional paper sequence IS 6000 Begin the topic and methodology search Self-directed study IS 7100 Present the written research proposal for approval Select IS 7150 or IS 7200 as the venue for completing the professional paper Perform the research Write the professional paper During IS 7150 or IS 7200 IS 6000 Begin the topic and methodology search Self-directed study IS 7100 Present the written research proposal for approval Select IS 7150 or IS 7200 as the venue for completing the professional paper Perform the research Write the professional paper During IS 7150 or IS 7200

5. Self-directed study: Become an expert! Find and read a peer-reviewed article every week Write an annotated bibliography for each article Identify topics that you are very interested in studying Find and read a peer-reviewed article every week Write an annotated bibliography for each article Identify topics that you are very interested in studying

6. Qualitative research methods in IS 7150 Content analysis Case study research Descriptive Prescriptive Action research The cycle System development project Ethnographic research Experiments Content analysis Case study research Descriptive Prescriptive Action research The cycle System development project Ethnographic research Experiments

7. Content analysis A deep, deliberate literature review Uses quantitative tools to assess patterns in relevant, authoritative books, articles and documents on a specific topic Usually does not require working with human subjects An excellent way to demonstrate specific, actionable knowledge in a field or topic A deep, deliberate literature review Uses quantitative tools to assess patterns in relevant, authoritative books, articles and documents on a specific topic Usually does not require working with human subjects An excellent way to demonstrate specific, actionable knowledge in a field or topic

8. Case study Allows a researcher to describe how a person, group organization or other unit of analysis operates Relies on interviews and access to relevant documents Tend to be snapshots of a situation or organization at a specific point in time Can use historical or archival data Allows a researcher to describe how a person, group organization or other unit of analysis operates Relies on interviews and access to relevant documents Tend to be snapshots of a situation or organization at a specific point in time Can use historical or archival data

9. Descriptive case studies Researcher may be a passive observer who does not intend to change the setting through comments, evaluations or presence

10. Prescriptive case studies Researcher may develop various alternative course of action as part of their evaluation of the case setting Participants may or may not be aware of this activity Researcher may develop various alternative course of action as part of their evaluation of the case setting Participants may or may not be aware of this activity

11. Action research is like consulting Action research implies active participation by the researcher Professional consultants also work to improve a situation in a specific setting In IS 7150, action research projects are treated as well-documented consulting projects Action research implies active participation by the researcher Professional consultants also work to improve a situation in a specific setting In IS 7150, action research projects are treated as well-documented consulting projects

12. Action research Researcher works with participants to create a set of positive social changes in their environment (research setting) 1.Identify research questions 2.Gather information to answer the research questions 3.Analyze and interpret the data 4.Share results with participants Researcher works with participants to create a set of positive social changes in their environment (research setting) 1.Identify research questions 2.Gather information to answer the research questions 3.Analyze and interpret the data 4.Share results with participants

13. Action research in IS 7150 Student must identify and find an appropriate research setting Working students should use their own organization or company Full-time students may approach this as a service learning project Student must identify and find an appropriate research setting Working students should use their own organization or company Full-time students may approach this as a service learning project

14. Action research in IS 7150 Student must prepare and present their is 7150 research proposal during IS 7100 This proposal usually becomes the first three chapters of the professional paper Student must prepare and present their is 7150 research proposal during IS 7100 This proposal usually becomes the first three chapters of the professional paper

15. Action research in IS 7150 A professional paper is REQUIRED for all IS 7150 AND IS 7200 projects The 5 chapter format is followed for all professional papers Reference list with an appropriate quantity of authoritative sources from peer- reviewed and professional publications A professional paper is REQUIRED for all IS 7150 AND IS 7200 projects The 5 chapter format is followed for all professional papers Reference list with an appropriate quantity of authoritative sources from peer- reviewed and professional publications

16. Action research in IS 7150 Students may work alone or in pairs on an IS 7150 applied project Proposal and performance expectations are higher for student groups Scope of project Amount of documentation Group members may be asked to evaluate each others performance Students may work alone or in pairs on an IS 7150 applied project Proposal and performance expectations are higher for student groups Scope of project Amount of documentation Group members may be asked to evaluate each others performance

17. Various methods can be used in an action research project An action research project may use one or more additional methodologies Scientific method Adds rigor Helps control research and setting bias Projects should be replicable Projects can be extendible An action research project may use one or more additional methodologies Scientific method Adds rigor Helps control research and setting bias Projects should be replicable Projects can be extendible

18. For IS 7150, an action research project should be implemented as a very well-documented consulting project

19. System development project Student designs, creates and documents a complex software system to solve a specific set of requirements Security Firewall Multiple servers Application development Student designs, creates and documents a complex software system to solve a specific set of requirements Security Firewall Multiple servers Application development

20. Proposing a complete system development project can be risky The students proposal is the contract with the instructor for completing IS 7150 Research settings can change If the organization changes its plan, how can the student complete the project? Project schedule may be beyond the students control An organizations delays may force a student to enroll in additional semesters of IS 7150 The students proposal is the contract with the instructor for completing IS 7150 Research settings can change If the organization changes its plan, how can the student complete the project? Project schedule may be beyond the students control An organizations delays may force a student to enroll in additional semesters of IS 7150

21. Proposing a complete system development project can be risky Research settings can change If the organization changes its plan, how can the student complete the project? Project schedule may be beyond the students control An organizations delays may force a student to enroll in additional semesters of IS 7150 Therefore, the student should anticipate possible problems and solutions as part of the research proposal Research settings can change If the organization changes its plan, how can the student complete the project? Project schedule may be beyond the students control An organizations delays may force a student to enroll in additional semesters of IS 7150 Therefore, the student should anticipate possible problems and solutions as part of the research proposal

22. Proposing a complete system development project can be risky A system development project must also include the complete documentation for the system itself! This documentation is IN ADDITION to the professional paper Does the student have enough time to design, implement AND document the system during one semester? A system development project must also include the complete documentation for the system itself! This documentation is IN ADDITION to the professional paper Does the student have enough time to design, implement AND document the system during one semester?

23. An incomplete implementation of a system development project may not satisfy the MSIS degree requirements! The student needs to clearly document how the project was executed and how and why the plan was changed

24. Reducing risk in system development projects IS 7150 students may propose narrow, descriptive action research projects that use common elements of system development projects This format allows students to develop an action research project that is tailored to their technical and professional interests IS 7150 students may propose narrow, descriptive action research projects that use common elements of system development projects This format allows students to develop an action research project that is tailored to their technical and professional interests

25. Action research options Feasibility studies Human factors studies Disaster recovery planning Business or functional-level strategic planning Feasibility studies Human factors studies Disaster recovery planning Business or functional-level strategic planning Application development Web site development Database development Security testing Network design

26. Ethnographic research Develops deep, rich knowledge of a social life in an organization The researcher becomes a participant in the research setting Requires extensive access to a research setting Can be time-consuming Develops deep, rich knowledge of a social life in an organization The researcher becomes a participant in the research setting Requires extensive access to a research setting Can be time-consuming

27. Experiment A means of identifying the possible effects of a specific treatment The researcher manipulates the research conditions in order to test various hypotheses Comparisons are made between a control group and a treatment group A means of identifying the possible effects of a specific treatment The researcher manipulates the research conditions in order to test various hypotheses Comparisons are made between a control group and a treatment group

28. An incomplete implementation of an research project may not satisfy the MSIS degree requirements! The student needs to clearly document how the project was executed and how and why the plan was changed

29. IS 7150 information wsodeman@hpu.edu

30. Reference list Berg, B. L. (2007). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. (ISBN 0-205- 48263-5) Graziano, A. M., & Raulin, M. L. (2007). Research methods: A process of inquiry. (6th ed.) Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. (ISBN 0- 205-48475-1) Myers, M. D. & Avison, D. (Eds.). (2002). Qualitative research in information systems: A reader. London: SAGE. (ISBN 0-7619-6632-3) Berg, B. L. (2007). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. (ISBN 0-205- 48263-5) Graziano, A. M., & Raulin, M. L. (2007). Research methods: A process of inquiry. (6th ed.) Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. (ISBN 0- 205-48475-1) Myers, M. D. & Avison, D. (Eds.). (2002). Qualitative research in information systems: A reader. London: SAGE. (ISBN 0-7619-6632-3)