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Doing Sociomateriality Research in Information Systems

Published:13 December 2016Publication History
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Abstract

This paper agrees with Mueller et al.'s (2016) view that researchers who want to adopt a sociomaterial approach often find themselves confused regarding research methods. However, it departs from Mueller's et al. suggestion to seek guidance from the structural-functionalist approach of Parsons' and Shils' (1951) General Theory of Action. The paper argues that finding a methodological framework for research following a sociomaterial approach has to be consistent with the philosophy, ontology and roots of this approach and that it is limiting to read the post-human approach of sociomateriality through a structural-functionalist lens. The paper briefly reviews the roots of the sociomaterial approach in sociology and information systems and offers a methodological guidance based on Actor Network Theory (ANT) and post ANT/Feminist lenses.

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            cover image ACM SIGMIS Database: the DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems
            ACM SIGMIS Database: the DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems  Volume 47, Issue 4
            November 2016
            101 pages
            ISSN:0095-0033
            EISSN:1532-0936
            DOI:10.1145/3025099
            Issue’s Table of Contents

            Copyright © 2016 ACM

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