Robust action strategies in a connected but unequal world : revisiting American pragmatism for social justice focused research in information systems

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p>In this paper, we elucidate robust action as a research framework for the information systems (IS) field. We contend robust action provides a suitable frame to conduct pragmatist research in IS and can be useful in researching the multi-faceted terrain of social justice. The robust action frame has its roots in pragmatism, and, moreover, given the history of American pragmatism as rooted in social justice, robust action can provide a suitable frame to confront broad-scale issues on a societal scale—a topic that little IS research has examined. We define robust action’s components, illustrate its philosophical rooting in the pragmatist tradition, and show how one can use it.</p></div>