ICT4D Research in Developing Countries: A Call for Pragmatism Approach
Abstract
Today, Information Systems research and in particular in the area of ICT4D in developing nations is dominated by positivism
and interpretivism paradigms. Information systems contributions are influenced by historical, cultural, and political contexts in which it is
done. Researchers in this area question the appropriateness of positivism and interpretivism philosophical foundations to conduct ICT4D
research. This paper explores the use of pragmatism as an alternative research paradigm to that can be employed to understand the state
of the ICT4D research. Research drawing explicitly on pragmatism is still relatively rare. The paper reviews the pragmatism in terms of its
ontology, epistemology, axiology and methodology and its value in the ICT4D research discipline. As a new paradigm, pragmatism disrupts
the assumptions of older approaches based on the philosophy of knowledge, while providing promising new directions for conducting and
understanding the nature of research in the area of ICT4D in developing countries. It is anticipated the readers of the article to make a more
informed choice for themselves on whether or not to pursue the path of pragmatism their own research.
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