The information systems (IS) field has been the subject of many enquiries over the years, however, in relation to research from a critical theory perspective, such enquiries as have been reported are problematical. The field includes a small number of academics who research and engage in discourse on information systems topics from a critical theory perspective. The growth and influence of this group are the focus of this enquiry. The paper reports the results of an extensive demographic and content survey of information systems research and writing activity from a critical perspective published in leading information systems journals, conferences and specialist critical information systems forums in the period 2001-2005. Patterns and trends of critical research and of critical IS researchers and authors are identified. The findings show distinct regional and gender distributions of authors of critical papers compared with IS field norms. The paper contributes to the IS field's development by raising awareness of critical researchers' activities and providing an analysis of critical activity in the IS field. 548Volume 22 Article 30 I. INTRODUCTIONThe information systems (IS) field has been the subject of many enquiries over the years, however, in relation to research from a critical theory perspective, such enquiries as have been reported are problematical. Several authors make unsupported claims that the volume of critical research in the IS field has increased in recent years [McGrath 2005; Kvasny and Richardson 2006]. Orlikowski and Baroudi's [1991] much-cited survey of IS research paradigms and methods found little evidence of critical research. Chen and Hirschheim [2004] found so few critical IS papers published in the 10 years after Orlikowski and Baroudi's [1991] survey that they dismissed the critical paradigm in their analysis of IS research. More recently, Richardson and Robinson [2007] revisited IS research for the period 1991-2001. Using a broad definition of critical research they found a small number of IS papers informed by the critical paradigm. This paper contributes to an understanding of critical research in the IS field by arguing for a traditional meaning and role for critical research and reporting a detailed survey and analysis of critical research and publication in the IS field in the years 2001-2005.Although currently a very small part of the overall IS research effort, critical research has the potential to effect relevant and necessary critique of the field's research effort and to identify new directions and opportunities for the IS field to serve society. Such research and debate have the potential to provide scrutiny of extant theories and practices and provide essential critique that is not possible unless the researcher places him/herself outside the existing research and practice paradigm [Horkheimer 1937]. Critical research thus warrants greater attention than its presence might suggest. Information systems (IS) activities surrounding the acquisition or development of the inform...
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