Qualitative methods research in information systems: Motivations, themes, and contributions

In the course of conducting studies in information systems (IS), researchers must oftentimes investigate, design, and develop sound methods or approaches to best conduct their research. While new theoretical knowledge advancing the field is regarded as of utmost importance in most IS journals, any new knowledge that is not demonstrated by a sound use of research method may not be trusted. Despite their importance, and the fact that journal submissions often miss out on publication due to methodological flaws, research methods are sometimes viewed as a sidetrack topic, or as a byproduct of the main research. Thus, accumulative learning concerning research methods is often excluded from the journal literature, or restricted to less accessible venues. Hence, a special issue like this offers a good opportunity to reflect on and contribute to the state-of-the-art of qualitative research methods within the IS field.