Updating the Philosophy of Middle-Range Theories : Implications for IS
Siponen, M., & Klaavuniemi, T. (2018). Updating the Philosophy of Middle-Range Theories : Implications for IS. In M. Tanabu, & D. Senoo (Eds.), PACIS 2018 : Proceedings of the 22nd Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems. Opportunities and Challenges for the Digitized Society : Are We Ready? (pp. 3608-3621). Association for Information Systems. https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2018/128
Date
2018Copyright
© the Authors, 2018.
Merton’s concepts of middle-range theories (MRTs) and grand theories (GTs) are widely
mentioned in information systems (IS) theorizing literature. On one hand, numerous IS authors
claim that MRTs are common in IS or that design science theories are MRTs. On the other
hand, others report that too much focus is placed on GTs (instead of MRTs) in IS. Moreover,
MRTs and GTs have acquired a normative role in IS. Given such disagreements and the
normative role of MRTs and GTs, there is a need to examine what Merton’s GT and MRT are.
The aim of this paper is to start such a discussion by providing an interpretation of Merton’s
GT and MRT. We contest many IS views on Merton. We also suggest that Merton’s MRT should
be revised and clarified to account for developments in natural sciences and the philosophy of
science.
Publisher
Association for Information SystemsParent publication ISBN
978-4-902590-83-8Conference
Pacific Asia Conference on Information SystemsIs part of publication
PACIS 2018 : Proceedings of the 22nd Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems. Opportunities and Challenges for the Digitized Society : Are We Ready?
Original source
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2018/128Publication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/28138567
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