To demonstrate the application of a feminist epistemology within IS gender research, the research presented in this paper uses a case study approach involving semi-structured interviews conducted with women who are successfully working in the IS/IT industry in Tasmania. The adoption of a case study strategy is supported by the view of Reinharz (1992) that feminists use case studies primarily to analyse the significance of a situation. While there is an absence of research that directly relates to gender imbalance within the IS/IT industry in Tasmania, this research is founded on an assumption that any discriminatory practices found in this state are likely to mirror the situation elsewhere.
To recruit participants for the case study the primary researcher attended a social event hosted by the Women in Information Technology Tasmania (WIITT) group. WIITT is a special interest group constituted under the auspices of the Australian Computer Society (ACS). At this event she was able to address the group and provide an outline of the research and invite the women in attendance to volunteer to participate. A brochure providing an overview of the research and the participants’ expected contribution was made available at the event. Within a feminist research perspective this personal approach was an important initial step in the development of rapport with potential participants.
At this gathering between six and nine volunteers were sought to participate in interviews. This number of interviews was established by reference to the limitations of the time and the resources available for this research. Based on the qualitative literature, the appropriate number of interviews is dependent upon the projected depth of analysis and the proposed representativeness of the research (Connell et al., 2001). In any case, that evening six women volunteered to participate. It was interesting to observe that most of the women approached by, or who themselves approached, the researcher during the course of the evening expressed their interest in the research but also expressed their reservations regarding the relevance of their contribution. Comments like ‘I don’t think I’m the right person to speak to’ or ‘I’m not sure if I really do the right kind of work – I’m not very technical’ were common although a few questions generally showed that the women were indeed employed in the IS/IT sector. Comments such as these are perhaps indicative of the fundamental difference in approach that women exhibit compared to men in similar roles in the industry.
The choice of research participants was based on the following criteria. The women needed to be currently working in IS/IT in either the public or private sectors in Hobart, readily accessible and willing to take part in the research and available for an interview during the required research time of the research.
Subsequent to the WIITT social event two more women volunteered to participate. This brought the total number of volunteers to eight. The potential participants were contacted shortly after the WIITT event to thank them for their offer of participation and to let them know that they would be contacted again to organise the interview. They all expressed their ongoing support for the research. In keeping with a feminist epistemology this second personal contact was yet another occasion to build rapport with the women who were prepared to contribute to the research.
Data collection was based on the use of semi-structured interviews that aimed to encourage participants to provide their own views and perspectives of their experiences working in an IS/IT work environment. A combination of open and closed questions was used. The majority of the questions began with ‘how’ or ‘what’ as a reminder to keep the question broad and open, and were worded to encourage descriptive replies. For example: ‘How did you get into information systems?’ and ‘What do you envisage for yourself in your professional career?’.
A prepared interview guide was also used to stimulate discussion. This was based on the personal experience and understanding of the primary researcher, gained from working for a number of years in the IS/IT industry. It provided a solid starting position, and offered the ability, when appropriate, to pursue interesting responses with probing questions.
Prior to the main interviews a pilot interview was conducted to ensure the questions were easily understood, to test the application of the interview guide and assess the pace necessary to complete the interview. The pilot took place with a female IS professional who had lengthy experience working in the IS/IT sector in Tasmania. It was completed within the projected 60-minute time frame and the interview schedule worked effectively in encouraging the woman to relate her personal experiences of working in the IS/IT industry.
The eight main interviews took place in June and July 2002 and were conducted at venues and times suitable to the participants. To maximise the level of comfort and increase the likelihood of full, comprehensive and frank responses, the women taking part were assured the interviews would be treated as confidential and no identifying information would be incorporated into transcripts or subsequent analysis.
With the permission of the participants the interviews were tape recorded to enable the researcher to capture the exchange with a high degree of accuracy. None of the participants declined to have the interviews recorded. The intention, where the participants indicated their willingness to do so, was that the transcripts would be provided to them for checking. This approach was used to fulfil a validity test involving collaboration.
Each interview was transcribed within 48 hours of completion. This was done to complete the task while the memory of the researcher was still fresh, thereby reducing the risk of error in the transcription should any words be indistinct on the tape. This approach proved to be very successful with all but one of the tape recordings. The exceptional recording was indistinct in parts due to high levels of background noise in combination with a very softly spoken participant. Because the transcription was completed in a timely manner the majority of data from this interview was recovered.
The interviews were transcribed into Microsoft Word and then entered into an Excel spreadsheet to facilitate the detailed breakdown of the data that qualitative analysis demands. The aim of coding in qualitative analysis is to shatter the data and then manipulate it into groupings that can be compared and regrouped (Maxwell, 1996). In coding the data, a three-stage bottom-up coding process was adopted: open, axial and finally selective.