Overcoming theory-practice inconsistencies: Critical realism and information systems research

This paper argues that information systems (IS) research conducted within the standard account of the paradigms of positivism and interpretivism suffers from persistent theory-practice inconsistencies. These inconsistencies are located between researchers’ stated (or implicit) ontological assumptions and research practice and results. Such a situation calls for a (re)consideration of the underlying ontological premises of information systems research and practice. This paper proposes that a critical realist ontology allows for one re-interpretation of the activity of science as implicitly predicated upon natural and social realism as well as the concepts of structures and generative mechanisms. This interpretation provides greater explanatory power vis-à-vis current research practices and resolves the theory-practice contradictions highlighted above. Consequently, it is a powerful logical argument for accepting this new conceptualization as an improvement upon the former. To illustrate, this paper recasts one such debate in light of critical realist assumptions; technological determinism vs. social construction of technology.