Why Theoretical Contributions Matter in the Economics of Information Systems Research

Why Donation Theoretical Important in Do an investigation Economics of information systems

Donation theoretical in study Empirics is often a controversial topic, especially in the field Economics of information systems (Economics-IS). Artikel “On creating effective theoretical contributions for empirical papers in Economics of information systems: Some Editorial Considerations” by Anandasivam Gopal, Pei-yu Chen, Wonseok Oh, Sean Xin Xu, and Suprateek Sarker (2024) attempts to resolve this confusion by offering clear instructions on how to you donation theory can be developed and understood in empirical research.

Published in journals Information systems researchthis article highlights that theoretical contributions are key elements that give direction and relevance to research.

Data shows that less than 30% of research in Econ-IS was able to make important theoretical contributions in the last five years (2019-2024). This shows a gap in the understanding and application of theory in empirical research in this area. The authors of the article, through their experience as editors and reviewers, try to provide concrete guidance and a taxonomy that will help researchers understand the different types of theoretical contributions that can be made.

Interestingly, this article not only emphasizes the importance of theory, but also how the theory can be applied, tested, or even developed in the context of systems economics. information. The reflective method used by the authors provides valuable insights for educators who are often faced with the challenge of creating scientific work that is not only empirical, but also contributes significantly to theoretical.

The article written by Gopal et al. (2024) emphasized theoretical contributions in research Economics of information systems (Econ-IS) is often misunderstood and neglected. Based on the author’s experience as an editor, this article identifies six main complaints that often arise in the review process, in 45% of articles submitted to journals. Information systems research rejected because it did not make a clear and meaningful theoretical contribution. This shows that many researchers do not fully understand how to integrate theory into their empirical research, or even that they do not provide clarity regarding the theoretical expectations. .

The authors divide theoretical contributions into four categories: confirmation, enhancement, extension, and synthesis. Only 20% of the reviewed articles reached the level of synthesis, that is, the highest type of theoretical contribution that combines multiple theoretical perspectives and provides new understanding on the phenomenon being studied. This figure shows that most researchers tend to stop at the validation stage, where they only test existing theories without trying to prove these theories. expand or improve.

This article provides concrete examples of how research can be classified into these four types, and shows how more innovative studies can combine theories from different disciplines to form new frameworks, create more complete.

One of the important points raised by Gopal et al. (2024) that theoretical contributions do not always have to come from the development of new theory. In some cases, important contributions can come from applying existing theories to different contexts or through rigorous empirical testing.

For example, research that examines the economic impact of adopting new technologies in information systems can make theoretical contributions by showing how existing theories of technology adoption work in different economic settings. In fact, this article notes that approximately 35% of theoretical contributions in Econ-IS research arise from modifying and testing existing theories.

The pragmatic approach taken by Gopal et al. gives perspective to researchers, especially those working in the Econ-IS field, to understand that theory is not something that should be treated as an end goal. In contrast, theories are tools that help us understand and explain phenomena in the economics of information systems. In doing so, this article provides valuable guidance on how researchers can develop more meaningful and relevant theoretical contributions, particularly in increasingly complex contexts. complex and dynamic.