Social Representation Theory and Construct Definition in the Information Systems Area

Objective: this study explores the application of social representation theory (SRT) in defining theoretical constructs within information systems (IS) research. It aims to develop a comprehensive methodological workflow to guide researchers in effectively utilizing SRT to understand emerging constructs in the IS domain. Proposal: the paper underscores the critical need for clarity in construct definition and introduces the principles of SRT, advocating for its application to enhance the precision and depth of construct definition in IS research. Using a narrative literature review, the study identified 26 papers that employed SRT to define constructs in the IS field and, based on them, proposed an SRT-based methodological workflow to define constructs in the IS area. Conclusion: the results highlight the importance of a careful application of SRT through the methodological workflow developed, which integrates the word evocation technique, Vergès’s quadrant, as well as lexical, content, and implicative analyses to make sense of emerging constructs in the IS domain. While many IS studies have traditionally relied on isolated case studies, conceptual models, or quantitative methodologies to address new constructs, this article demonstrates the potential of SRT to do so — especially when combined with other methodological approaches, as presented in the proposed methodological workflow. Thus, this comprehensive approach can significantly improve the process of defining and interpreting emerging constructs in IS research. Consequently, IS scholars can use this article as a guide to achieve this goal.