Survey Research Methodology in Management Information Systems: An Assessment.

Author List: Pinsonneault, Alain; Kraemer, Kenneth L.;
Journal of Management Information Systems, 1993, Volume 10, Issue 2, Page 75-105.
Survey research is believed to be well understood and applied by management information systems (MIS) scholars. It has been applied for several years and it has precise procedures which, when followed closely, yield valid and easily interpretable data. Our assessment of the use of survey research in the MIS field between 1980 and 1990 indicates that this perception is at odds with reality. Our analysis indicates that survey methodology is often misapplied and is plagued by five important weaknesses: (1) single-method designs where multiple methods are needed, (2) unsystematic and often inadequate sampling procedures, (3) low response rates, (4) weak linkages between units of analysis and respondents, and (5) overreliance on cross-sectional surveys where longitudinal surveys are really needed. Our assessment also shows that the quality of survey research varies considerably among studies of different purposes: explanatory studies are of good quality overall, exploratory and descriptive studies are of moderate to poor quality. This article presents a general framework for classifying and examining survey research and uses this framework to analyze the usage of survey research conducted in the past decade in the MIS field. In an effort to improve the quality of survey research, this article makes specific recommendations that directly address the major problems highlighted in the review.
Keywords: research methodology; research of management information systems; survey research
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#276 0.183 satisfaction information systems study characteristics data results using user related field survey empirical quality hypotheses important success various indicate tested
#222 0.167 research researchers framework future information systems important present agenda identify areas provide understanding contributions using literature studies paper potential review
#219 0.149 response responses different survey questions results research activities respond benefits certain leads two-stage interactions study address respondents question directly categories
#294 0.124 development systems methodology methodologies information framework approach approaches paper analysis use presented applied assumptions based proposed described examines basis proposes
#255 0.115 mis management article resources sciences developing organization future recommendations procedures informing organizational assessment professional groups area improving conference evaluate activity
#282 0.101 power perspective process study rational political perspectives politics theoretical longitudinal case social rationality formation construction shows multiple instead understanding fact
#74 0.052 high low level levels increase associated related characterized terms study focus weak hand choose general lower best predicted conditions implications