Why Should the Q-method be Integrated Into the Design Science Research? A Systematic Mapping Study

TL;DR

This paper systematically reviews the application of the Q-method in Information Systems and advocates for its integration into the Design Science Research process to enhance system evaluation and analysis.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive mapping of Q-method usage in IS and proposes its integration into DSR to improve research and evaluation methods.

Findings

Q-method has been applied across various IS research stages

It can support each main stage of the DSR process

Q-method enhances system analysis and design evaluation

Abstract

The Q-method has been utilized over time in various areas, including information systems. In this study, we used a systematic mapping to illustrate how the Q-method was applied within Information Systems (IS) community and proposing towards the integration of Q-method into the Design Sciences Research (DSR) process as a tool for future research DSR-based IS studies. In this mapping study, we collected peer-reviewed journals from Basket-of-Eight journals and the digital library of the Association for Information Systems (AIS). Then we grouped the publications according to the process of DSR, and different variables for preparing Q-method from IS publications. We found that the potential of the Q-methodology can be used to support each main research stage of DSR processes and can serve as the useful tool to evaluate a system in the IS topic of system analysis and design