The document discusses the challenges of conducting research in digital societies and complex systems. It argues that traditional research paradigms and methods may no longer apply and that ontological revisions are needed. Intervention research is proposed as an alternative that focuses on collaborative problem solving with users to address issues and rapidly prototype solutions. The role of social science research could shift towards more use-inspired, human-centered approaches to generate actionable insights and solutions and have a greater societal impact.

1. The Digital Society
and
Intervention
Research –
Revisiting
Epistemology

2. @mikaelseppala
Sociologist (YTM)
Action Researcher (KM)
Entrepreneur (KTM)
Service Designer (MBA)
Business Architect
Current research/interest:
Human-business-IT alignment

3. The digital society challenges us
to an ontological revisition

4. Cynefin

12. “Fractal discinctions produce an
illusion of progress from a reality of
tradition.
Disciplines borrow from each other
endlessly, but train scholars more or
less within consistent lineages.“

13. WICKED PROBLEMS IN
COMPLEX
ADAPTIVE
INTERRELATED
SYSTEMS
AFFECTED BY GLOBAL, RAPID TRANSITION

14. WE ARE GOOD AT DIVERGENCE BUT
WHEN DO WE CONVERGE?

15. As ontology precedes epistemology,
what are the implications if the revised
ontological understanding on research?

16. MEANWHILE IN IT DEVELOPMENT

18. Waterfall methods:
Scientific research
”An academic quartal is 25 years”
Using rigor to uncover underlying truths
that are not there, at least in the social
sciences

19. We should try to be faster and more humane
Agile methods:
Human-centered design
Attaining best possible understanding and
constant adaptation

21. INTERVENTION RESEARCH
AS SCIENCE

23. Action research is either
research initiated to solve an
immediate problem or a
reflective process of progressive
problem solving led by individuals
working with others in teams or
as part of a "community of
practice" to improve the way
they address issues and solve
problems. (Wikipedia)
KURT LEWIN 1890-1947

24. 24
Direct societal contribution
Indirect societal contribution
Independent
observation
Intervention
Use-inspired basic
research
Pasteur’s Quadrant:
Normal science
with use-inspired
research questions
User-outlined
interventionary
research
Lewin’s Quadrant:
User-outlined
interventionary
research questions
Reflexive research
Kuhn’s Quadrant:
Revolutionary
science research
questions with
implications of
renewal of science
Basic research
Bohr’s Quadrant:
Normal science with
theory-inspired
research questions on
new topics
Rethinking the functions of higher education research in the social sciences : the case of the Family
Business Review / Mikael Seppälä. (http://bit.ly/1aUhFfn)

25. DESIGN RESEARCH AS
INTERVENTION

27. Sociologists
operate here

28. But we fail to move into this space!

29. Qualitative and Quantitative
Behavioral Research
Kitchen Stories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKYyHJFxmVA

30. Generating actionable insight
Maps we can use

31. Co-creative ideation
For context-sensitive &
humanized solutions

32. Rapid, cheap prototyping
Fun and easy

38. How can we as
sociologists make
collaborative and
collective impact on
society using
science?