Visualizing argumentation for research problem and research design

Abstract

Identification of a research-worthy problem, choosing the appropriate research design, and writing based on the conducted research high-quality research paper with a well-structured argumentation is a complex and multifaceted process. Therefore, employing a comprehensive approach when identifying a research problem and composing research papers is crucial to structuring the process. Design Science Research (DSR) is a commonly applied strategy in research in Information Systems. Even though this methodology has a detailed description of every research phase, for some novice researchers it is challenging to have a comprehensive overview of their research project, from the argumentation of the studied problem to the evaluation of the results. We claim that conceptual modeling can visually represent these argumentations and key elements of DSR. We provide a metamodel to represent relevant aspects of the research and the connections between them, which might be depicted as graphical elements and connectors. This approach significantly improves understanding and structuring of the research problem and design, leveraging on literature about argumentation and motivation modeling.