Abstract

This paper is early work to describe the introduction of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) to the field of information technology (IT). We begin by describing EBP and its history within medicine and other fields of practice. IT is then described as a discipline and field of practice; we describe the need for evidence-based approaches within IT through two case studies. Finally, we adapt the hierarchy of evidence typically used in EBP to examine types of evidence that can be used to support EBP in the field of IT. Through these efforts we contribute to an understanding of how evidence from IT research can used to support improved IT solutions.