Abstract

The concept of heuristic developed by philosophers of science depicts a theoretical way of investigating the world of models and the problematic relations models may have to other models, to theories, and to empirical data. The heuristic is a set of abstractions elaborated as stories, interpretations, speculations, metaphors, and other forms of abstract speculations. The heuristic is a device for connecting entities through problem-based methods that allow for the assessment of the validity of theory. In this paper we describe a set of heuristics as a guide for IS research to develop a progressive problem shift. Positive and negative heuristics as a guiding framework in terms of evaluating a hypothetical critical realist research program are developed and presented as a set of methodological rules for the establishment of a progressive problem-shift.

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Arguments for the Adoption of a Heuristic Approach to IS Research

The concept of heuristic developed by philosophers of science depicts a theoretical way of investigating the world of models and the problematic relations models may have to other models, to theories, and to empirical data. The heuristic is a set of abstractions elaborated as stories, interpretations, speculations, metaphors, and other forms of abstract speculations. The heuristic is a device for connecting entities through problem-based methods that allow for the assessment of the validity of theory. In this paper we describe a set of heuristics as a guide for IS research to develop a progressive problem shift. Positive and negative heuristics as a guiding framework in terms of evaluating a hypothetical critical realist research program are developed and presented as a set of methodological rules for the establishment of a progressive problem-shift.