Analyzing e-government research: Perspective, philosophies, theories, methods, and practice

被引:449
作者
Heeks, Richard [1 ]
Bailur, Savita
机构
[1] Univ Manchester, IDPM, Manchester M13 9PL, Lancs, England
[2] Univ London London Sch Econ & Polit Sci, London WC2A 2AE, England
关键词
D O I
10.1016/j.giq.2006.06.005
中图分类号
G25 [图书馆学、图书馆事业]; G35 [情报学、情报工作];
学科分类号
1205 ; 120501 ;
摘要
In recent years, there has been rapid growth in the volume of research output on the topic of e-government. To understand this research better, we used content analysis of eighty-four papers in e-government-specific research outlets (two journals and one conference series). Our analytical focus took in five main aspects: perspectives on the impacts of e-government, research philosophy, use of theory, methodology and method, and practical recommendations. Normative evaluation identified some positive features, such as recognition of contextual factors beyond technology, and a diversity of referent domains and ideas. Alongside this, though, research draws mainly from a weak or confused positivism and is dominated by over-optimistic, a-theoretical work that has done little to accumulate either knowledge or practical guidance for e-government. Worse, there is a lack of clarity and lack of rigor about research methods alongside poor treatment of generalization. We suggest ways of strengthening e-government research but also draw out some deeper issues, such as the role of research philosophy and theory, and the institutional factors - particularly pressures of competition and time - that may constrain development of e-government as a research field. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:243 / 265
页数:23
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