On the Use of Neurophysiological Tools in IS Research: Developing a Research Agenda for NeuroIS

Authors

Angelika Dimoka, Temple UniversityFollow
Rajiv Banker, Temple UniversityFollow
Izak Benbasat, University of British ColumbiaFollow
Fred Davis, University of Arkansas & Sogang UniversityFollow
Alan R. Dennis, Indiana UniversityFollow
D Gefen, Drexel UniversityFollow
Alok Gupta, University of MinnesotaFollow
Anja Ischebeck, University of GrazFollow
Peter Kenning, Zeppelin UniversityFollow
Paul A. Pavlou, Temple UniversityFollow
Gernot Muller-Putz, Graz University of TechnologyFollow
René Riedl, University of LinzFollow
Jan vom Brocke, University of LiechtensteinFollow
Bernd Weber, University of BonnFollow

Abstract

This article discusses the role of commonly used neurophysiological tools such as psychophysiological tools (e.g., EKG, eye tracking) and neuroimaging tools (e.g., fMRI, EEG) in Information Systems research. There is heated interest now in the social sciences in capturing presumably objective data directly from the human body, and this interest in neurophysiological tools has also been gaining momentum in IS research (termed NeuroIS). This article first reviews commonly used neurophysiological tools with regard to their major strengths and weaknesses. It then discusses several promising application areas and research questions where IS researchers can benefit from the use of neurophysiological data. The proposed research topics are presented within three thematic areas: (1) development and use of systems, (2) IS strategy and business outcomes, and (3) group work and decision support. The article concludes with recommendations on how to use neurophysiological tools in IS research along with a set of practical suggestions for developing a research agenda for NeuroIS and establishing NeuroIS as a viable subfield in the IS literature.

Recommended Citation

Dimoka, Angelika; Banker, Rajiv; Benbasat, Izak; Davis, Fred; Dennis, Alan R.; Gefen, D; Gupta, Alok; Ischebeck, Anja; Kenning, Peter; Pavlou, Paul A.; Muller-Putz, Gernot; Riedl, René; vom Brocke, Jan; and Weber, Bernd. 2012. "On the Use of Neurophysiological Tools in IS Research: Developing a Research Agenda for NeuroIS," MIS Quarterly, (36: 3) pp.679-702.