1 ON RESEARCH INTO THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMPUTING SYSTEMS

In order to improve quality of information systems research we must try to select an adequate research approach. When an information system consists of hardware, software and users, we have to consider every component as research objects. Their behaviour is then important. Hardware and software normally behave deterministicly. We can therefore predict their behaviour. But users do not always behave deterministicly. They have their own will and we cannot predict their behaviour. This may recommend different research approaches for computing systems on one hand and for individuals for the other hand. This fact will be demonstrated by taking two studies: a controlled experiment and a survey, and by considering them from different points of view: a) view of human being, b) horizon, c) dynamic system and d) paradigm. In two studies evaluated here the deterministic view were applied, although the voluntaristic view is considered to be more adequate. The causal models (horizon) were applied, although teleological explanations, hermeneutics and phenomenology seem to be more adequate. The human beings were also considered to behave as nilpotent systems, although the theory of dynamic systems supports such a view that they should be considered as self-steering systems. The meaning paradigm should be preferred instead of the behavioristic paradigm applied in those two studies