The Challenge of Teaching Research Skills to Information Systems and Technology Students

Abstract

As the information systems discipline grows, so do the number of programs offering graduate research degrees. These include one-year post-graduate (honors) programs, masters by research, and doctoral degrees. Graduate students entering their first research degree are faced with a quantum leap in expectations and required skills. The burden is significant: they need to find a referent discipline, select a research method and paradigm, defend the research relevance, and fulfill the requirements of adding to a body of knowledge. The purpose of this chapter is to inform discussion on the issue of teaching and learning graduate research skills. We identify the core research skills needed and present three pragmatic models for teaching them. This provides a basis for a shared knowledge and discourse based on lessons learned.