Computer and Information Science November, 2009 47 An Investigation into Methods and Concepts of Qualitative Research in Information System Research Marzanah A.Jabar (Corresponding author) Tel: 60-3-8946-6524 E-mail: marzanah@fsktm.upm.edu.my Fatimah Sidi, Mohd Hasan Selamat, Abd. Azim Abd. Ghani & Hamidah Ibrahim Faculty of Science Computer and InformationTechnology University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: 60-3-8946-6555 E-mail: {fatimah, hasan, azim, hamidah}@fsktm.upm.edu.my Abstract This paper is an initial review of literature, investigating qualitative research, to show its relevance in information system disciplines. Qualitative research involves the use of qualitative data, such as interviews, documents, and participant observation data, to understand and explain social phenomena. Qualitative research can be found in many disciplines and fields, using a variety of approaches, methods and techniques. In Information Systems (IS), there has been a general shift in information system research away from technological to managerial and organizational issues, hence an increasing interest in the application of qualitative research methods. Frequently used methods are the action research, case study, ethnography and grounded theory. Review of each research approaches in qualitative methods, will be discussed. Important considerations in the methods are identified, and cases for each research method are described. Then we will present some benefits and limitations of each method. Based on the result, a framework of an action research was proposed and might be useful in starting a research project in information system using qualitative method. Keywords: Qualitative research, Information system, Action research, Grounded theory, Case study, Ethnography 1. Introduction Methodology deals with the methods and principles used in an activity. Research methodology explained on how the research is done, the methods of data collection, materials used, subjects interviewed, or places visited. It details out the account of how and when the research is carried out. It also gives reasons on why a particular method is use, rather than other methods. There are many references in the IS literature of research in the area of Information System, such as the work of Alavi & Carlson (1992), Benbasat & Weber (1996), Olikowski & Iacono (2001), Yin (2002) and Myers (2006). Research in information systems is a relatively new one and without a research tradition that it can claim to be its own. In an awareness to cover other areas of the information systems spectrum, from technical perspectives of systems design and implementation, to social perspectives of the structural and social consequences of information systems, it lead the way to qualitative approaches, and the use of methodologies imported from those fields. Following a general shift in information system research away from technological to managerial and organizational issues, there is an increasing interest in the application of qualitative research methods as highlighted by Mangan (2004) and Singh et.all (2005). Matsuo et.al (2008) has compiled a series of case studies in answering research queries of an experimental learning theory in managing information theory. The purpose of this article is to provide a perspective on the methods that could be applied to Information Systems disciplines research. This article addresses the usage of qualitative research method in Information System research. This paper is structured as follows. First we will review the research approaches in qualitative methods. Next we highlight the important considerations in the methods are identified, and cases for each research method in qualitative research are described. Then we put forward discussion on the benefits and limitations of each method and proposed a framework for a qualitative research study in IS. Finally we present some conclusions on the research methodologies in IS. 2. Qualitative Research Overview Research methods can be classified in various ways, Myers (1997) however described that one of the most common