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Tacitly developed research methods in ICS 1

Methodology is the study of research methods. This study tests three different methodological approaches to the same material, 93 doctoral theses from NTNU, to learn more about (a) the research methods actually in use in ICS and (b) each methodological approach’s ability to shed light on (a). First, a KWIC analysis of “research method” is done. Despite being both primitive and time consuming, the KWIC analysis depicts well the extent and scope of the methodological debate in the material overall. Second, research methods employed in 772 thesis chapters are classified using both Zelkowitz’s (1997) and Ramesh’s (2004) taxonomies. This study finds that “research method per text” classification is much more problematic than previous studies have suggested and tells us more about the taxonomies themselves than the research methods employed in the material. Third, examples of “ICS engineering” used as a research method are drawn from the material. Trend exemplification is highly subjective and qualitative, rendering the findings tentative. Despite its weaknesses, trend exemplification manages to positively shed light on a tacit research method employed in ICS and some of its methodological premises.