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Critical Issues in Information Systems Seminar Arguments

This seminar explores critical issues in Information Systems research, focusing on the quality of arguments and logical analysis. Topics include deductive and inductive arguments, logical indicators, and the use of Venn diagrams to determine argument validity.

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Critical Issues in Information Systems Seminar Arguments

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  1. Critical Issues in Information Systems BUSS 951 Seminar 8 Arguments

  2. Argument

  3. Argument (1) • in all aspects of research we must take care that we ensure the quality of the argument: • the introduction of the research problem • the examination and analysis of the problem • the presentation of the findings • the analysis and conclusions • if the reasoning is good the argument is virtually a proof (in general it is hard to do this in Information Systems because we are not dealing with a sciences)

  4. Argument (2) • the simplest kind of argument consists of just one premise and a conclusion • Premise: a statement that is assumed to be true for the purpose of the argument from which a conclusion is drawn, or to be implied by it • Premises are assumptions- they are not reasoned about and they are not conclusions • “The most prominent political issues are those about which the press write the most. Therefore journalists have a great influence in the selection of political issues around which public debate revolves”

  5. Argument (3) • in analysing an argument it is the logical indicators that we must look to first • there are two fundamental rules to keep in mind: • the rule of grouping: as far as a possible reasons for the same conclusion should be kept together, and their similar logical status called to the readers attention • the rule of direction: where there are a series of assertions, each being a reason for the next one, the argument should move in a single direction, so that the order of the words helps to remind us of the order of the thought

  6. True premises and a true conclusion All diamonds are hard Some diamonds are gems Therefore some gems are hard Some or all premises are false and a true conclusion All cats have wings All birds are cats Therefore all birds have wings Some or all premises false and a false conclusion All cats have wings All dogs are cats Therefore all dogs have wings Argument (4) • Validity of deductive arguments is determined by their logical form, not by the content of the statements which they comprise

  7. Argument (5) • Deductive argument infer the particular from the general: • All humans are mortal • Socrates is human • Therefore Socrates is mortal  conclusion • Inductive argument contains the claim that its premises only provide some support for the conclusion • Socrates is human and is mortal • Xanthippe is human and is mortal • Sappho is human and is mortal • Therefore probably all human are mortal

  8. Argument (6) • Venn diagrams provide us with a clear and untechnical method of checking the validity of deductive arguments • Eg. Some engineers are females Females Engineers

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