1 / 43

MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper Contents Chapter by Chapter

MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper Contents Chapter by Chapter. The Prototype - I. As an exercise, try writing the paper before you do any research at all, when your idea is fresh and ridiculous

time
Download Presentation

MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper Contents Chapter by Chapter

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. MIS 650: Prototype Project PaperContents Chapter by Chapter MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  2. The Prototype - I • As an exercise, try writing the paper before you do any research at all, when your idea is fresh and ridiculous • Later, revise the prototype as you settle on each successive parameter: hypotheses, methodology, data collection, results • Only the last version will be “valid” MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  3. The Prototype - II • Doing a prototype will help you focus on what you know and are passionate about while bringing into stark relief what the project is lacking • You’ll get over the initial hump of writing • You can imagine the best possible outcomes, which is what you are striving for. MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  4. Format of the Prototype-I • Follow the suggested outline for first draft • For each section, write ONE paragraph. Try to be as succinct as possible. This is an exercise in thinking for you • Words are important. Make sure every word is clear, unambiguous, and useful. • These paragraphs will be expanded in later drafts. MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  5. Prototype Paper Concepts Paper Issues Paper(s) Chapter 1 Annotated Bibliography Lit Survey Chapter 2 Methodological Issues Paper New Methodology (-ies) Chapter 3 Writing ExercisesTen Papers Preparatoryto a Thesis MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  6. Writing Exercises - Ch. 1 1. Write the entire prototype project paper (PP) 2. Produce a concept paper (CP) based on your ideas; this will grow into Chapter 1 3. The CP can spur a number of other papers relating to practical and theoretical issues involved in your research 4. Case studies highlighting practical issues are also probable. MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  7. Writing Exercises - Ch. 2 1. Create an annotated bibliography, including even articles you haven’t read yet (AB) 2. There are specialised annotated bibliographies, but modern web-based retrieval has made these less publishable 3. AB grows into a Lit Survey (LS) 4. The LS grows into Chapter 2 MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  8. Writing Exercises - Ch. 3 1. Write a paper on methodological issues (MI) in the area you are researching. These can be related to approaches, data collection procedures, data handling, ethical problems, etc. 2. A series of papers on “new” methods (NM) that you are developing is important, esp. as you develop your instrumentation 3. NM and MI eventually grow into Chapter 3. MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  9. Writing Process Prototypepaper Methodological Issues Paper THEORY/CONCEPTS HYPOTHESES METHOD Concept Paper AnnotatedBibliography New Methods Paper Issues Paper Lit Survey Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  10. Format of the Prototype-II • Don’t worry about “truth” at this point for chapters 4-6. You will speculate on these chapters. Later you will substitute the truth. • Chapter 2 is normally a separate exercise and is not included in the prototyping. You may, however, list in point form any literature you know of that interests you at this time. MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  11. Chapters Chapter 1: Theory - Why, your ideas Chapter 2: Lit Survey - Which, when, others’ ideas Chapter 3: Methodology - How, where to do Chapter 4: Data Collection - What you found Chapter 5: Analysis - Whether your ideas are valid Chapter 6: Conclusions - So what MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  12. Chapter 1: Theory • Chapter Outline • 1.1 Context, History • 1.2 Your Research TOPIC • 1.3 Contending Theories (if any) • 1.4 Necessity for Research • 1.5 Value of Research • 1.6 The Research Hypotheses • 1.7 Overview of Rest of Paper MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  13. 1.1 Context/History • WHEN: The history of the research area: • What has happened in the real world? • What has happened in the world of ideas? • WHERE: Context • WHO is interested? WHY? • WHAT are the stakes and stakeholders  • HOW: Method • Why is this new approach called for? MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  14. 1.2 Your Research Topic State your research topic as succinctly but as vividly as possible: “The role that cultureplays in the perceptions of participants in electronic, computer-supported meetings (EMS)” Note action-orientedkernal: “…plays…” Note focus/locus “culture”, “EMS” In IS, there must be a technology locus MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  15. 1.3 Contending Theories What is the general state of theory in this area? What are the major theories or approaches in this area? Do they conflict? If so, how? What is the basis of the conflict (explanation, case range, eg.)? Do they reinforce? If so, why is that bad? What evidence is there that the “received wisdom” is false? MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  16. 1.4 Necessity for Research: Possible reasons • Situation is instance of more general phenomenon regarding technology • Commercial interest • Potential for wasting lots of business resources • People need help with technology • Technology is going the wrong direction MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  17. 1.5 Value of Research:Possible Criteria • Refers to previous sections on WHAT, WHO, WHY, and HOW • Demonstrates that research is worth doing • Convinces that paper is worth reading MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  18. 1.6 The Research Hypotheses • Are predictions from theory that can be tested. THEY MUST BE TESTABLE • Generally are phrased in “abstract” terms but can be related to real-world phenomena • If hypotheses are shown to be false, then the underlying theory must have something false in it • Often stated in the “null” or negative way • These are usually repeated in Chapter 2, 3, and 6 MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  19. 1.7 Overview of Rest of Dissertation • Mention each chapter • Highlight main point of each chapter • If not as expected (I.e., this outline), explain why you must deviate from expected • Point out any unusual things the reader must watch out for • Acknowledgements can be put here or in separate section at front of paper MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  20. Chapter 2: Literature Review • Chapter Outline • 2.1 Research Framework: Where this research question lies • 2.2 Major Components of the topic of interest • 2.3 Review of PERTINENT literature • 2.4 Summary of what is KNOWN and what is NOT KNOWN • 2.5 Research hypotheses MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  21. 2.1 Research Framework • Helps reader structure thinking into categories. • Best thought of as a table listing ... • The phenomena of interest • What influences those phenomena • What the phenomena produce • How to observe the phenomena • How to observe their causes MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  22. 2.2 Components Divide the world of ideas as you see fit, eg: • By type of user • By type of technology • By SDLC phase • By part of process (generation of above) • By theoretical approach or theory MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  23. 2.3 Review of Literature Introduce the threads (see 2.2) • Show how threads form a whole • Discuss each thread in turn • Originator, historical timing • Breadth of ideas, depth of research • Discuss “Split ends”, isolated ideas Bring threads together MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  24. 2.4 Summary 2.5 Hypotheses Summarize state of theory Show how your theory • Fills in holes in theory • Explains contradictions • Asks better questions • Is more compact, fewer independent or intervening variables • Explains things of more current interest MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  25. Chapter 3: Methodology • Chapter Outline • 3.1 Methodological Issues (Usually Validity and Reliability, sometimes Ethics) • 3.2 Sampling Methods • 3.3 Data Collection Techniques • 3.4 Data Integrity Issues • 3.5 Analysis “Look-ahead” MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  26. 3.1 Methdological Issues • State of Theory about methodology in your area; What’s good, what’s new • Generalizability, possibility of • Role of Data in your research • Formal or informal index of “goodness” of your methodology • Your approach (positivistic, interpretivistic, critical) with justification. MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  27. 3.2 Sampling • Discuss how sample*was obtained • What was used as the sampling frame? Why? • Were there any problems with representativeness? • Were there any potential ethical problems? * Or samples. Where a non-positivistic approach is justified, you must discuss theoretical sampling, case selection as appropriate MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  28. 3.3 Data Collection Techniques • What were the possible choices for data collection technique? • Why did you choose method you did? • Describe the method in detail • Was there a role for observers, coders, interpretation? • Show how you handled problems with the technique you selected. MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  29. 3.4 Data Integrity Issues • How data will be recorded • Potential problems with recording • How data will be maintained • Potential problems with maintenance • How data will be stored, accessed • Potential problems with storage, access • Are data confidential? MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  30. Chapter 4: Data • Chapter Outline • 4.1 Actual Data Collection Experience • 4.2 General Description of Research Sample • 4.3 Coding, Description of Data Quality • 4.4 GROSS tables, breakdowns, descript’n • 4.5 Data formats, availability, etc. • 4.6 Research Management MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  31. 4.1 Actual Data Collection • The actual procedure you used • Actual number of events or subjects, with descriptions • Problems encountered at any phase or stage of data collection • Time and effort it took to administer instruments MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  32. 4.2 General Description of Research Sample • Thick vs. thin description • Lots of detail vs. summary information • Value of description of sample and context • Need to describe contextual details Context Sample MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  33. 4.3 Coding and Data Quality • Quality of respondents • Quality of collection method • Quality of recording • Coding • Time value (obsolete?)…value of old data MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  34. 4.4 Presentation of Data • Tradeoff is precision and volume vs. understanding • Choices are tables, text, images/graphs • Tables are good more moderate amounts of data • Images and graphs can summarize, show trends • Text is necessary if events are idiosyncratic MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  35. 4.5 Data Formats, Availability • Data should be available for researchers to use and auditors to check on without identifiers (where possible) • Formats might be …. • ASCII, delimited • Excel or Lotus spreadsheets • Database format • Flat files on tape MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  36. 4.6 Research Management • Volume of events, data • Timing of research • Staff Skills, esp. interviewing • Data Integrity • Ethics/Ownership • Funding • Cost Control MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  37. Chapter 5: Analysis and Results • Chapter Outline • 5.1 Analysis Methods • 5.2 Support for Hypotheses • Positive: Evidence • Negative: Evidence of Contrary • Equivocal: No evidence for either • 5.3 Summary MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  38. Chapter 6: Conclusions • Chapter Outline • 6.1 Review of Theory • 6.2 Implications for THEORY? • 6.3 Implications for PRACTITIONERS? • 6.4 Implications for SOCIETY? • 6.5 Implications for YOU? [Optional :-)] MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  39. 6.1 Review of Theory • Brief Review of Chapters 1 and 2 • Restatement of the major ideas of the theory • Restatement verbatim of research hypotheses • Brief review of research procedure • Brief review of results of data collection and analysis. MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  40. 6.2 Implications for Theory • Was theory supported? • How did hypotheses fare? • Was this a strong test? • If not, why not? • Were competing theories refuted? • Did data point out inconsistencies? • Was this a strong test? • If not, why not? MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  41. 6.3 Implications for Practitioners • What do results mean in practical terms? • What are the benefits of applying results? • What are the risks of trying to apply results? • What is the next challenge? MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  42. 6.4 Implications for Society • What do your results mean for society (if anything?) • Are there ethical correlates? • Does this point out work that society must do (including the society of researchers)? MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

  43. 6.5 Implications for the Researcher • What does this mean to your program of research? • What studies remain for you to carry out? • Is this a rich lode to mine? • Is this the last word? • Will this topic still love me, tomorrow? MIS 650: Prototype Project Paper

More Related