Research methodologies in information Security Research: The road ahead

Abstract

This panel discussion will examine the methodological traditions currently existing amongst the fraternity of information security researchers. Information security researchers commonly engage in research activities ranging from the highly technical, to the "softer" human orientated. As such, researchers engaged in the field of information security could potentially make use of research philosophies, paradigms, and methodologies ranging from the quantitative/positivist to the interpretive/qualitative. This panel discussion will examine current trends in the selection and use of research methodologies amongst researchers from the information security fraternity and will attempt to address issues relating to such choices. Finally the possible impact of methodological traditions from the human and social sciences on future information security research activities will be discussed. © IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2010.