Changes

The information systems field’s focus on theory is well established, and the IS Theory Wiki serves the need for quick review and understanding. The popularity of theories on the site may serve as an early indicator of the future prevalence of these theories, or at least the share of researcher attention during day-to-day research activities. While some theories, such as 2014’s most popular theory—Institutional Theory—likely benefits from visitors from other disciplines, some of the changes may reflect a move away from the individual level of analysis in IS.  In fact, none of the top five theories are at the individual level, although 2014’s strongest climber—Social Network Theory—certainly incorporates the individual perspective. Only two pure-play individual level theories breached the top 10—the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovations theory, and whereas the former maintained its 2013 spot, the latter lost several spots.

The information systems field’s focus on theory is well established, and the IS Theory Wiki serves the need for quick review and understanding. The popularity of theories on the site may serve as an early indicator of the future prevalence of these theories, or at least the share of researcher attention during day-to-day research activities. While some theories, such as 2014’s most popular theory—Institutional Theory—likely benefits from visitors from other disciplines, some of the changes may reflect a move away from the individual level of analysis in IS.  In fact, none of the top five theories are at the individual level, although 2014’s strongest climber—Social Network Theory—certainly incorporates the individual perspective. Only two pure-play individual level theories breached the top 10—the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovations theory, and whereas the former maintained its 2013 spot, the latter lost several spots.

 

The top 10 theory pages visited for 2014 (with across-site percentages):

The top 10 theory pages visited for 2014 (with across-site percentages):

# Institutional theory (9.4%)

# Institutional theory (9.4%)