Managing Digital Trace Data Research Projects

Bastian Wurm ()
Additional contact information
Bastian Wurm: LMU Munich School of Management

Chapter Chapter 1 in Digital Trace Data Research in Information Systems, 2026, pp 3-21 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Digital trace data are receiving increasing attention in information systems research. Compared to traditional research methods, digital trace data research offers several advantages. Among other things, it allows researchers to observe behavior at scale—either over extended periods, many actors, or both. In some cases, digital trace data allow researchers to explore phenomena that could previously not be examined or develop novel viewpoints on already well-researched phenomena. However, digital trace data have particularities that need to be taken into account when carrying out research projects, such as the highly interdisciplinary nature of such projects and issues related to data quality. The purpose of this chapter is threefold. First, I explain the research process in digital trace data research projects and point to potential pitfalls as well as how to mitigate them. Second, I suggest that scholars capitalize on design science research to move from individual digital trace data research projects to larger research programs. I illustrate how to make such a move and its implications by drawing on research on process complexity. Finally, I examine how AI can support research and what considerations this entails, a timely concern for many scholars today.

Keywords: Digital trace data; Research project management; Design science research; Research program (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prochp:978-3-032-05497-5_1

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783032054975

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-05497-5_1

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Progress in IS from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().