Making choices: developing digital research frameworks for information management

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a digital research framework that can be applied to many of the areas that encompass the discipline of information management.

Design/methodology/approach

This communication proposes a new “Triple A” framework that allows the researcher to progress digital ideas by asking a series of staged questions. This is a progressive model consisting of three stages of acquaintance, adaption and application bounded by three major influencing issues of culture, communication and context. The Triple A framework is aimed to be flexible to apply to most styles of research yet robust enough to offer useful insights.

Findings

The model devised will assist (information management) researchers with choices of research approaches. It may be that early career researchers or those undertaking a postgraduate research will find this framework especially helpful to clarify thoughts and direction. The model aims to be useful and, whilst no doubt will be built on in future research, it is offered as foundation, an initial starting point, as those who work and study in information management fields endeavor to make new choices in our digitally managed information world.

Originality/value

The originality and value of this work is the proposition of a new model that will allow researchers to impose structure on ideas and encourage the viewing of work from a multi-disciplinary perspective within the growing and evolving digital areas.

Citation

Burke, M. (2018), "Making choices: developing digital research frameworks for information management", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 74 No. 1, pp. 247-254. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-07-2017-0107