Validity in Design Science Research

Research in design science has always acknowledged the need for evaluating its knowledge outcomes, with particular emphasis on assessing the efficacy and utility of the artifacts produced. However, the need to demonstrate the validity of the research process and outcomes has not received as much attention. This research examines scientific approaches to validity and their applicability to, and use in, design science. To do so, we assembled an extensive data set of research validities articles from various disciplines, as well as design science articles. We then examined the use of validity concepts in these articles and how these concepts could be employed to describe what validity means for design science research. The result is a design science research validity framework to guide how validity can become an integral aspect of design science research.