Till KTH:s startsida Till KTH:s startsida

Theme 2

Theme 2: Theory

  • Seminar (Tue/Wed): The use of theory in media technology research, Stefan Hrastinski.

Read the following articles:

  • Gregor, S. (2006). The Nature of Theory in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, 30(3), 611-642.
  • Sutton, R. I. & Staw, B. M. (1995). What Theory is Not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 371-384.
  • Select a media technology research paper that you argue is using theory in an excellent way. The paper should have been published in a high quality journal, with an “impact factor” of 1.0 or above.

Your tasks are the following:

  1. Briefly explain to a first year student what theory is, and what theory is not.
  2. Describe the major theory or theories that are used in your selected paper. Which theory type (see Table 2 in Gregor) can the theory or theories be characterized as?
  3. Which are the benefits and limitations of using the selected theory or theories?

Publish your reflections before and after the theme is completed in you individual learning portfolio (blog). See the course guide for further instructions.