Qualitative researchers attempt to make sense of, or provide an interpretation of, observed phenomena relative to meanings attributed to these phenomena by individuals involved in specific incidents or situations. Thus, qualitative researchers spend a lot of time in the field, working closely with research participants in their natural surroundings. The qualitative researcher and the research participant work together to document and develop interpretations of events or situations relative to a specific research question.

Some time ago it was suggested that the study of information systems ‘… will remain a doubtful science as long as it continues to strive to develop its stock of knowledge primarily through the practice of the so-called scientific method’ (Klein and Lyytinen, 1985). These authors were suggesting that information systems researchers, in order to advance the discipline, should consider other research perspectives. It was further suggested ‘… that information systems epistemology draws heavily from the social sciences because information systems are fundamentally social rather than technical systems’ (Hirschheim, 1992). This suggestion recommends that information systems researchers move closer to the qualitative research perspective. However, as a caution, Galliers (1992), through his revised taxonomy of information systems research, recommended that information systems researchers should not blindly adopt a specific research method. Indeed, the adopted research method should be based upon the research question(s) and the objective of the research project.

More recently the information systems research community has responded to the call for more of an emphasis on conducting qualitative research (Benbasat and Zmud, 1999). Trauth (2001) in a series of manuscripts presents a number of challenges and considerations when conducting qualitative information systems research. Trauth suggests ‘A significant portion of established and emerging IS researchers are grappling with the issue of learning about new research methods even as they struggle to keep up with new information technologies. This is especially the case for qualitative methods’ (Trauth, 2001). Lee (2001) provides further elucidation by suggesting that information systems research is more than the study of technology or behaviour. Lee suggests that information systems researchers must deal, ‘… with the phenomena that emerge when the technolog[ical] and the behavioral interact, much like different chemical elements reacting to one another when they form a compound’ (Lee, 2001). Thus, there is a growing community of information systems researchers who are conducting investigations from a qualitative perspective. Members of this community consider information systems to be more social than technical. They are interested in investigating interpretations of phenomena. The next sections present some theories, which respond to and support a qualitative perspective. The discussion includes grounded theory, personal construct theory, and narrative inquiry. Table 4.1, “Qualitative theories” provides an overview of the subsequent discussion.