Performing research validity: A “mangle of practice” approach

Robert B. Johnston; Kai Reimers; Stefan Klein

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4_12

Performing research validity: A “mangle of practice” approach

Robert B. Johnston, Kai Reimers, Stefan Klein

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Mainstream discussions of research validity (truth, significance, objectivity) draw heavily on a certain “representational idiom” of science [1] that assumes a knowledge–reality correspondence. However, for research on practices, rather than nature, such a knowledge-reality distinction is neither feasible nor desirable, as it is at odds with the very notion of a “practice”. Drawing on Pickering’s alternative “performative idiom” for science, and extending it to participatory forms of social research, we propose alternative validity claims for practice-oriented research. Using the example of information infrastructuring practices, we show that the three aspects of validity thus reinterpreted become quite closely related to each other and also to the process of information infrastructuring itself. In so doing, we demonstrate the importance of extending the notion of “material agency” to embrace the dual agencies of the practice studied and the researcher’s own disciplinary practice.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Beyond Interpretivism? New Encounters with Technology and Organization
Subtitle of host publication	IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations, IS&O 2016, Dublin, Ireland, December 9–10, 2016, Proceedings
Editors	Lucas Introna, Wanda Orlikowski, Donncha Kavanagh, Susan Scott, Séamas Kelly
Place of Publication	Cham Switzerland
Publisher	Springer
Pages	201-214
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Electronic)	9783319497334
ISBN (Print)	9783319497327
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4_12
Publication status	Published - 2016
Event	IFIP Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations 2016 - Dublin, Ireland Duration: 9 Dec 2016 → 10 Dec 2016 http://ifip82dublin.weebly.com/ https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4 (Proceedings)

Publication series

Name	IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology
Publisher	Springer New York LLC
Volume	489
ISSN (Print)	1868-4238
ISSN (Electronic)	1868-422X

Conference

Conference	IFIP Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations 2016
Abbreviated title	IS&O 2016
Country/Territory	Ireland
City	Dublin
Period	9/12/16 → 10/12/16
Other	This event will run immediately before the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2016), which will also be held in Dublin from 11 - 14 December 2016.
Internet address	http://ifip82dublin.weebly.com/ https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4 (Proceedings)

Keywords

Infrastructuring
Mangle of practice
Objectivity
Performativity
Relevance
Rigour
Significance
Truth
Validity

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4_12

Cite this

Johnston, R. B., Reimers, K., & Klein, S. (2016). Performing research validity: A “mangle of practice” approach. In L. Introna, W. Orlikowski, D. Kavanagh, S. Scott, & S. Kelly (Eds.), Beyond Interpretivism? New Encounters with Technology and Organization : IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations, IS&O 2016, Dublin, Ireland, December 9–10, 2016, Proceedings (pp. 201-214). (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology; Vol. 489). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4_12

Johnston, Robert B. ; Reimers, Kai ; Klein, Stefan. / Performing research validity : A “mangle of practice” approach. Beyond Interpretivism? New Encounters with Technology and Organization : IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations, IS&O 2016, Dublin, Ireland, December 9–10, 2016, Proceedings. editor / Lucas Introna ; Wanda Orlikowski ; Donncha Kavanagh ; Susan Scott ; Séamas Kelly. Cham Switzerland : Springer, 2016. pp. 201-214 (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology).

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title = "Performing research validity: A “mangle of practice” approach",

abstract = "Mainstream discussions of research validity (truth, significance, objectivity) draw heavily on a certain “representational idiom” of science [1] that assumes a knowledge–reality correspondence. However, for research on practices, rather than nature, such a knowledge-reality distinction is neither feasible nor desirable, as it is at odds with the very notion of a “practice”. Drawing on Pickering{\textquoteright}s alternative “performative idiom” for science, and extending it to participatory forms of social research, we propose alternative validity claims for practice-oriented research. Using the example of information infrastructuring practices, we show that the three aspects of validity thus reinterpreted become quite closely related to each other and also to the process of information infrastructuring itself. In so doing, we demonstrate the importance of extending the notion of “material agency” to embrace the dual agencies of the practice studied and the researcher{\textquoteright}s own disciplinary practice.",

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note = "IFIP Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations 2016, IS&O 2016 ; Conference date: 09-12-2016 Through 10-12-2016",

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Johnston, RB, Reimers, K & Klein, S 2016, Performing research validity: A “mangle of practice” approach. in L Introna, W Orlikowski, D Kavanagh, S Scott & S Kelly (eds), Beyond Interpretivism? New Encounters with Technology and Organization : IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations, IS&O 2016, Dublin, Ireland, December 9–10, 2016, Proceedings. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 489, Springer, Cham Switzerland, pp. 201-214, IFIP Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations 2016, Dublin, Ireland, 9/12/16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4_12

Performing research validity: A “mangle of practice” approach. / Johnston, Robert B.; Reimers, Kai; Klein, Stefan.
Beyond Interpretivism? New Encounters with Technology and Organization : IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations, IS&O 2016, Dublin, Ireland, December 9–10, 2016, Proceedings. ed. / Lucas Introna; Wanda Orlikowski; Donncha Kavanagh; Susan Scott; Séamas Kelly. Cham Switzerland: Springer, 2016. p. 201-214 (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology; Vol. 489).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research

TY - GEN

T1 - Performing research validity

T2 - IFIP Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations 2016

AU - Johnston, Robert B.

AU - Reimers, Kai

AU - Klein, Stefan

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Mainstream discussions of research validity (truth, significance, objectivity) draw heavily on a certain “representational idiom” of science [1] that assumes a knowledge–reality correspondence. However, for research on practices, rather than nature, such a knowledge-reality distinction is neither feasible nor desirable, as it is at odds with the very notion of a “practice”. Drawing on Pickering’s alternative “performative idiom” for science, and extending it to participatory forms of social research, we propose alternative validity claims for practice-oriented research. Using the example of information infrastructuring practices, we show that the three aspects of validity thus reinterpreted become quite closely related to each other and also to the process of information infrastructuring itself. In so doing, we demonstrate the importance of extending the notion of “material agency” to embrace the dual agencies of the practice studied and the researcher’s own disciplinary practice.

AB - Mainstream discussions of research validity (truth, significance, objectivity) draw heavily on a certain “representational idiom” of science [1] that assumes a knowledge–reality correspondence. However, for research on practices, rather than nature, such a knowledge-reality distinction is neither feasible nor desirable, as it is at odds with the very notion of a “practice”. Drawing on Pickering’s alternative “performative idiom” for science, and extending it to participatory forms of social research, we propose alternative validity claims for practice-oriented research. Using the example of information infrastructuring practices, we show that the three aspects of validity thus reinterpreted become quite closely related to each other and also to the process of information infrastructuring itself. In so doing, we demonstrate the importance of extending the notion of “material agency” to embrace the dual agencies of the practice studied and the researcher’s own disciplinary practice.

KW - Infrastructuring

KW - Mangle of practice

KW - Objectivity

KW - Performativity

KW - Relevance

KW - Rigour

KW - Significance

KW - Truth

KW - Validity

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DO - 10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4_12

M3 - Conference Paper

AN - SCOPUS:85000613359

SN - 9783319497327

T3 - IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology

SP - 201

EP - 214

BT - Beyond Interpretivism? New Encounters with Technology and Organization

A2 - Introna, Lucas

A2 - Orlikowski, Wanda

A2 - Kavanagh, Donncha

A2 - Scott, Susan

A2 - Kelly, Séamas

PB - Springer

CY - Cham Switzerland

Y2 - 9 December 2016 through 10 December 2016

ER -

Johnston RB, Reimers K, Klein S. Performing research validity: A “mangle of practice” approach. In Introna L, Orlikowski W, Kavanagh D, Scott S, Kelly S, editors, Beyond Interpretivism? New Encounters with Technology and Organization : IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on Information Systems and Organizations, IS&O 2016, Dublin, Ireland, December 9–10, 2016, Proceedings. Cham Switzerland: Springer. 2016. p. 201-214. (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology). doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-49733-4_12

Performing research validity: A “mangle of practice” approach

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