A low-budget method for theorizing: the dolphin experiments

Octavio GONZALEZ AGUILAR, Felizmente Verde S. de R. L. de C. V.

Abstract

This paper evaluates a low-budget method for theorizing. The method has provided evidence of being successful when the researcher needs an expert-level research model from scratch. Nevertheless, it is not known to what extent the method provides similar results than theories tested and published by experts. During this study, an experiment is conducted to evaluate to what extent the aggregation of non-expert views may produce research models similar to those published by expert researchers. The experiment provide evidence to argue that the low-budget method for theorizing is a plausible mean to foster research programs in developing countries. In practice, this study is particularly important for Latin American institutions with limited access to costly databases, labs and researchers. Finally, from a theoretical perspective, this study provides evidence to support the research agenda associated with the crowdsourcing of information systems research.

 

A low-budget method for theorizing: the dolphin experiments

This paper evaluates a low-budget method for theorizing. The method has provided evidence of being successful when the researcher needs an expert-level research model from scratch. Nevertheless, it is not known to what extent the method provides similar results than theories tested and published by experts. During this study, an experiment is conducted to evaluate to what extent the aggregation of non-expert views may produce research models similar to those published by expert researchers. The experiment provide evidence to argue that the low-budget method for theorizing is a plausible mean to foster research programs in developing countries. In practice, this study is particularly important for Latin American institutions with limited access to costly databases, labs and researchers. Finally, from a theoretical perspective, this study provides evidence to support the research agenda associated with the crowdsourcing of information systems research.