Policy Engagement as Rigourous and Relevant Information Systems Research: The Case of the LSE Identity Project

In this paper we argue for information systems researchers to participate in policy engagement as a form of research that is both rigorous and relevant. We illustrate this argument by drawing on our own experiences of the policy engagement process, namely an ongoing analysis of the UK Government’s proposals to introduce biometric identity cards. As a resul t of our experiences we reflect on the consequences of information systems researchers undertaking this style of research and make recommendations for the academic gatekeepers in information systems to consider and encourage research activities around policy engagement.

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