A1 Journal article (refereed)
Why is the hypothetico-deductive (H-D) method in information systems not an H-D method? (2020)

Siponen, M., & Klaavuniemi, T. (2020). Why is the hypothetico-deductive (H-D) method in information systems not an H-D method?. Information and Organization, 30(1), Article 100287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoandorg.2020.100287

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Siponen, Mikko; Klaavuniemi, Tuula

Journal or series: Information and Organization

ISSN: 1471-7727

eISSN: 1873-7919

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 30

Issue number: 1

Article number: 100287

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoandorg.2020.100287

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/73616

Abstract

The hypothetico-deductive (H-D) method is reported to be common in information systems (IS). In IS, the H-D method is often presented as a Popperian, Hempelian, or natural science method. However, there are many fundamental differences between what Popper or Hempel actually say and what the alleged H-D method per Hempel or per Popper means in IS. To avoid possible misunderstanding and conceptual confusion about the basic philosophical concepts, we explain some of these differences, which are not mentioned in IS literature describing the H-D model. Due to these distinctive differences, the alleged H-D method per Hempel or per Popper in IS cannot be regarded as the H-D model per Hempel or per Popper. Further, the H-D model is sometimes confused with another model in IS, the deductive-nomological (D-N) model of explanations. Confusing the H-D and D-N methods can also produce stagnation in the fundamental methodological thinking in IS. As one example, the H-D model (per Hempel or per Popper) does not require hypotheses to be based on existing theories or literature. As a result, misunderstanding the H-D model in IS may seriously limit new hypothesis or theory development, as the H-D model in the philosophy of science allows guessing and imagination as the source for hypotheses and theories. We argue that although IS research (1) generally does not follow the H-D method (per Hempel or per Popper), and (2) should not follow the H-D method, (3) we can still learn from the H-D method and criticisms of it. To learn from the H-D method, we outline method of hypothesis (MoH) approaches for further discussion. These MoH approaches are not hypothetico-deductive, but hypothetico-inductive-qualitative or hypothetico-inductive-statistical. The former MoH endeavors to be suitable for qualitative research, while the latter is aimed for statistical research in IS.

Keywords: data systems; theory of science; methodology; research methods; hypotheses; theories; inference; deduction (inference)

Free keywords: hypothetico-deductive; hypothetical-deductive; hypothesis; theory testing; guessing

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 3