Course Description
Becoming an IS scholar requires skill development in conceptualizing, theorizing, literature synthesis, developing ideas and writing papers, understanding the IS research landscape, and honing publishing and reviewing skills. The course provides doctoral students with the theoretical foundations and skills for becoming IS researchers and tools to succeed in their academic careers.
Athena Title
Research Fundamentals
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
(a) To provide doctoral students the theoretical foundations for becoming IS researchers, and (b) to socialize doctoral students into an IS academic mindset. The first objective is accomplished by examining the research process and helping students understand the building blocks of developing a research proposal, namely: (i) Theorizing (frameworks, theories, forms of theorizing, and the process of theory building) (ii) Conducting literature reviews (iii) Writing a research paper The second objective is accomplished by: (i) Examining the historical evolution of the IS academic discipline (ii) Understanding the landscape of the field (IS research traditions, areas of research, journals, conferences, professional associations) (iii) Understanding the process of writing and managing the doctoral dissertation (iv) Providing guidelines for a successful IS academic career (e.g., getting your first position, promotion and tenure, programs of research) (v) Describing the publishing and reviewing processes, understanding how to write a good review, and how to effectively respond to reviewer comments
Topical Outline
IS theorizing and key questions in the field Conducting literature reviews Writing a research paper The landscape of the IS field: IS paradigms Managing the dissertation Publishing and reviewing in IS journals Building a successful IS academic career
Syllabus