Explanations of Information Systems: Can Philosophy Help?

Accounts of explanation given in the information systems literature, most prevalent in the areas knowledge-based systems and human-computer interaction, generally do not consider the philosophical underpinnings of explanation concepts. The theoretically rich accounts that have emerged from the philosophy of science provide us with a well-developed framework for designing the structure and content of explanations to be provided for information systems in documentation, in help systems, and in embedded explanation facilities when these are provided. The work described in this paper is an attempt to draw some of these philosophical ideas into the realm of information systems by briefly reviewing four of the major models of explanation from the philosophy of science literature: deductive-nomological explanation, functional explanation, rational choice explanation, and pragmatic explanation. Elements are drawn from each of these models and are related to their potential utility in the information systems field. The approach to philosophy of science’s contributions to information systems explanation is from the perspective of information systems research and practice, not philosophy, in an attempt to ‘pull’, not ‘push’, these ideas into the realm of information systems development and use

Learning, Performance, and Analysis Support for Complex Software Applications

We propose a three-part framework describing support tools for users of complex software applications such as enterprise resource planning and decision support systems. The model is motivated by the objectives of learning, performance, and analysis and is grounded in the theories of constructivism, pragmatism, and reflection respectively. This mapping is supported both by results of prior research and by a case study formative evaluation of a complex, cognitive support system developed for antiterrorism resource allocation. The work contributes to the field of system usability by providing an integrative framework linking established theoretical positions with empirical research on human-computer interaction

THE RANGE AND ROLE OF THEORY IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN RESEARCH: FROM CONCEPTS TO CONSTRUCTION

This paper reports results from a field study of cross-disciplinary design researchers in information systems, software engineering, human-computer interaction, and computer-supported cooperative work. The purpose of the study was to explore how these different disciplines conceptualize and conduct design-as-research. The focus in this paper is on how theories are used in a design research project to motivate and inform the particulars of designed artifacts and design methods. Our objective was to better understand how elements of a theory are translated into design action, and how theoretical propositions are translated and then realized in designed artifacts. The results reveal a broad diversity in the processes through which theories are translated into working artifacts. The paper contributes to our understanding of design research in information systems by providing empirical support for existing constructs and frameworks, identifying some new approaches to translating theoretical concepts into research designs, and suggesting ways in which action and artifact-oriented research can more effectively contribute to a cumulative and progressive science of design

Explanation in information systems: A design rationale approach.

This dissertation investigates the relationship between the information systems (IS) development context, and the context in which such systems are used. Misunderstandings and ambiguities emerge in the space between these contexts and often result in construction of systems that fail to meet the requirements and expectations of their intended users. This study explores this problem using an approach derived from three largely separate and distinct fields: explanation facilities in information systems, theories of explanation, and design rationale. Explanation facilities are typically included in knowledge-based information systems, where their purpose is to provide system users with the underlying reasons for why the system reaches a particular conclusion or makes a particular recommendation. Prior research suggests that the presence of an explanation facility leads to increased acceptance of these conclusions and recommendations, therefore enhancing system usability. Theory of explanation is a field of study in which philosophers attempt to describe the unique nature of explanation and to identify criteria for explanation evaluation. Design rationale research is concerned with the capture, representation, and use of the deep domain and artefact knowledge that emerges from the design process. The design rationale approach goes beyond specification and suggests that to understand a system requires knowledge of the arguments that led to its realisation. This study proposes a model of IS explanation structure and content derived from formal theories of explanation with a method for obtaining this content based on design rationale. The study has four goals: to derive a theory of explanation specific to the domain of information systems; to examine this definition empirically through a study involving IS development and management professionals; to investigate in a case study whether the information needed to populate the explanation model can be captured using design rationale techniques; and construction of prototype software to deliver explanations per the proposed framework

Carma CO observations of three extremely metal-poor, star-forming galaxies

We present sensitive CO (J = 1 0) emission line observations of the three metal-poor dwarf irregular galaxies Leo P (Z ∼ 3% Zo), Sextans A (Z ∼ 7.5% Zo), and Sextans B (Z ∼ 7.5% Zo), all obtained with the Combined Array for Millimeter-wave Astronomy interferometer. While no CO emission was detected, the proximity of the three systems allows us to place very stringent (4σ) upper limits on the CO luminosity (LCO) in these metal-poor galaxies. We find the CO luminosities to be LCO < 2900 K km s-1 pc2 for Leo P, LCO < 12,400 K km s-1 pc2 for Sextans A, and LCO < 9700 K km s-1 pc2 for Sextans B. Comparison of our results with recent observational estimates of the factor for converting between LCO and the mass of molecular hydrogen, as well as theoretical models, provides further evidence that either the CO-to-H2 conversion factor increases sharply as metallicity decreases, or that stars are forming in these three galaxies very efficiently, requiring little molecular hydroge