Philosophical stances in information systems research: a case analysis and critical reflection

Abstract This article presents an overview of and introduction to philosophical stances often identified in information systems research. The philosophical stances are described regarding their ontology, epistemology and axiology across the philosophical paradigms of post-positivism, interpretivism, critical realism, pragmatism and critical theory. Through a case analysis from the interdisciplinary information systems field, the article illustrates and compares how each philosophical paradigm approaches the research process, highlighting the differences in underlying assumptions and methodologies. The article ends by warning against using the paradigms as templates for research, encouraging further ontological, epistemological and axiological discussions about what information systems research is and should be.