Abstract
AbstractThere is little overt engagement with research paradigms in ICT4D research, but what there is shows a dominance of positivism and interpretivism. In this paper, we explore the value of a “third way” research paradigm: critical realism. We concisely review the main features of critical realism: its ontological realism combined with epistemological relativism; its iterative, pluralist, and reflexive methodology; and its emancipatory values. Alongside the general value of explicit use of any research paradigm, we argue two particular types of value of critical realism for ICT4D research. First, generic values including exposure of context, a contingent causality that reflects real‐world ICT4D experiences, support for use of theoretical frames in ICT4D, legitimisation of different stakeholder views, and reduction of research bias and support for ICT4D's interventionist approach and its goal of delivering international development. Second, specific value in addressing current trends in ICT4D research: The growing search for causal links between “ICT” and “D,” and the political and ethical turns in ICT4D that are spurring researchers to engage more with issues of power, rights, and justice. But delivery of critical realism's utility will require the ICT4D research community to take actions that enable this emergent research paradigm to flourish.
Highlights
From the turn of the 21st century, there has been an ever-growing body of research and publication examining the role of information and communication technologies in socio-economic development (ICT4D).1 Within this body of work, explicit consideration of research philosophy generally and of specific research paradigms is rare (Gomez & Day 2013)
Critical realism has spread into use in a number of academic disciplines including one of ICT4D’s main cognate disciplines, information systems (e.g. Mingers 2004a, Mingers 2004b)
There is a generic ability of critical realism to address issues seen as concerns for ICT4D research
Summary
From the turn of the 21st century, there has been an ever-growing body of research and publication examining the role of information and communication technologies in socio-economic development (ICT4D). Within this body of work, explicit consideration of research philosophy generally and of specific research paradigms is rare (Gomez & Day 2013). From the turn of the 21st century, there has been an ever-growing body of research and publication examining the role of information and communication technologies in socio-economic development (ICT4D).1 Within this body of work, explicit consideration of research philosophy generally and of specific research paradigms is rare (Gomez & Day 2013). Alongside generic concerns about the limitations imposed by this philosophical duopoly, each of these two paradigms individually has a number of limitations which constrain ICT4D (and other) research Recognition of these limitations many years ago within social science overall resulted in a revisiting of the realist paradigm, and its development into a particular body of philosophical thought that has come to be known as “critical realism” (e.g. Bhaskar 1975, Bhaskar 1979). Critical realism has spread into use in a number of academic disciplines including one of ICT4D’s main cognate disciplines, information systems (e.g. Mingers 2004a, Mingers 2004b).
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