The practice of e-science and e-social science: method, theory, and matter

Grid technologies are widely regarded as important innovations for drawing together distributed knowledge workers into virtual communities. After reviewing the developments in e-science, we examine the emergence of e-social science and its implications for information systems research practice. We consider what is new about this phenomenon and discuss the issues raised by this particular approach to the virtualization of research practices. Our analysis is organized into three sub-sections that focus on: developments in e-social science research methods; the theoretical issues involved in pursuing an e-social science agenda; as well as the status and nature of the research materials that it gives ruse to in information systems.