Focal Spot, Summer 2003

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1094/thumbnail.jp

Modular and Collaborative Theorizing: A Move Away from Theoretical Superstars

Theorizing is often described as a rigorous, nebulous, and time-consuming process. In the end, theories are traditionally attributed to one individual or to a small group of individuals. Consider for example Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Aker’s Social Learning Theory, Davis’ Technology Adoption Model, and Fishbein and Ajzen\u27s Theory of Reasoned Action. Further, expectations of IS theories are quite high and accepted in fewer publication outlets as compared to routine theory testing endeavors, creating extra risk in commencing the theorizing process. The “average” researcher’s involvement in theorizing is often limited to theory testing and incremental theory extension through these testing efforts. This critical polemic proposes that such arrangements are not necessary and may be damaging to the collective creativity of the IS discipline. In this polemic, we identify different configurations for work products and working relationships between researchers to collaboratively develop novel IS theories in a modular and incremental fashion

Focal Spot, Fall 1972

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1003/thumbnail.jp

Spartan Daily, April 21, 1978

Volume 70, Issue 51https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/6342/thumbnail.jp

Harry Hess and sea-floor spreading

Harry Hess's hypothesis of sea-floor spreading brought together his long-standing interests in island arcs, oceanic topography, and the oceanic crust. The one unique feature of Hess's hypothesis was the origin of the oceanic crust as a hydration rind on the top of the mantle -- an idea that was not well received, even by the early converts to sea-floor spreading. Hess never changed his mind on this issue, and his stubbornness illuminates the logic of his discovery. Published and archival records show that 1) Hess became convinced the oceanic crust was a hydration rind as early as mid 1958, when he was still a fixist, 2) he devised sea-floor spreading in 1960 to reconcile the hydration-rind model with the newly discovered, high heat flow at oceanic ridge crests, and 3) Hess's new mobilist solution did the least amount of violence to his older fixist solution

Balch internet research and analysis tool development case study

The Internet has become increasing popular as a vehicle to deliver surveys. An essential objective of research is to collect accurate data and there has been little work to insure that Internet survey systems are employing best practices as defined by academic and professional research to collect data. My dissertation reviews the current literature relating to best practices in Internet survey design and best practices in software design and development. I then document the development and deployment of an Open Source and publicly licensed Internet survey system that allows researchers to easily create, deploy, and analyze the results of Internet surveys. The resultant Internet survey design product, the Balch Internet Research and Analysis Tool (http://birat.net) is a full-featured Internet survey system which addresses best Internet research practices as defined by academic and professional research. The system was designed and coded by the author and is considered by him to be both innovative and unique to the field. The dissertation then reviews the system features, describes how the system was deployed, and discusses the strategies used to increase use and adoption of the system