%0 Journal Article %1 Klein:2004:io %A Klein, Heinz K. %D 2004 %J Information and Organization %K imported thesis %N 2 %P 123--144 %R 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2004.02.002 %T Seeking the new and the critical in critical realism: déjà vu? %V 14 %X Critical realism (CR) is a research philosophy that has beeen proposed with the claim that it could be a way of ``centered providing a consistent and coherent underpinning philosophy for information systems''. The purpose of this paper is to examine this claim critically in light of the advances made in hermeneutics and critical social theory as alternative research philosphies. CR is found lagging behind these philosophies in epistemology, ontology and action-oriented value formation. It is concluded that critical realism could nevertheless play a useful role as a catalyst in the contemporary methodological debate in the applied social sciences by broadening the frame of reference of positivists beyond the issues already recognized in the post-positivist literature.

@article{Klein:2004:io, abstract = {Critical realism (CR) is a research philosophy that has beeen proposed with the claim that it could be a way of ``\dots centered providing a consistent and coherent underpinning philosophy for information systems''. The purpose of this paper is to examine this claim critically in light of the advances made in hermeneutics and critical social theory as alternative research philosphies. CR is found lagging behind these philosophies in epistemology, ontology and action-oriented value formation. It is concluded that critical realism could nevertheless play a useful role as a catalyst in the contemporary methodological debate in the applied social sciences by broadening the frame of reference of positivists beyond the issues already recognized in the post-positivist literature.}, added-at = {2017-03-16T11:50:55.000+0100}, author = {Klein, Heinz K.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2ac99077b2666674fec4c01d8bd1f8323/krevelen}, doi = {10.1016/j.infoandorg.2004.02.002}, interhash = {703af2728644df79656dd5cc28cc9199}, intrahash = {ac99077b2666674fec4c01d8bd1f8323}, journal = {Information and Organization}, keywords = {imported thesis}, month = apr, number = 2, owner = {Rick}, pages = {123--144}, timestamp = {2017-03-16T11:54:14.000+0100}, title = {Seeking the new and the critical in critical realism: d\'ej\`a vu?}, volume = 14, year = 2004 }