An empirical investigation of rigour versus relevance in information systems research

[摘要] The purpose of the study was to investigate the rigour and relevance of IS research; asresearchers and practitioners are divided and living in a different world of aspiration mconducting research. This division is as a result of many reasons. The gap between researchersand practitioners has promulgated debate and argument among the two that has lasted for years.Many believed that IS research is effective and others opposed it. Others within or outside thediscipline consider whether IS research output affects and impacts decision making in theindustry. Meanwhile, the debate on rigour and relevance has lasted for decades but, in reality, thedifferences gap still persists, in spite of efforts by researchers. Their efforts and hard-work seemnot to be very effective. This study seeks to determine whether practitioners meet their needs andexpectations and whether they address them through the rigour and relevance of IS/academicresearch. It is also to determine whether this debate which has lingered over the years is worth it.The growing problems and needs in the practitioners' world call for an investigation into thisrigour and relevance. There is an on-going criticism that IS research lacks rigour, relevance.effective communication and acceptance in the field as noted in the literature. The identifiedproblem under investigation now is lack of rigour, relevance and other issues such asconsistency, transparency, communication and inaccessibi lity in IS research. The population forthe study comprised academic lecturers attending the South African Institute for ComputerScientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT 2012) conference and North-WestUniversity IS and Computer Science (Mafikeng Campus) academics. The population was 90lecturers/academics and the sample size of 73 answered the questionnaires.

[发布机构] North-West University