The paper examines 155 behavioral information systems research articles published between 1983 and 1988, revealing that while the field lacks a single overarching theoretical perspective, it shares a common set of philosophical assumptions about valid evidence and phenomena. These assumptions are rooted in the natural science tradition, which may not be suitable for studying the complex, contextual relationships between information technology and people or organizations. The authors argue that the dominant research perspective in information systems research is not well-suited to studying situated interactions over time and propose additional research philosophies, such as interpretive and critical, to enrich the field. They conclude that multiple research perspectives can be useful in the information systems community to deepen understanding of behavioral information systems phenomena. The paper discusses the dominant positivist perspective in behavioral information systems research, which assumes an objective, independent physical and social world, and that knowledge is derived from empirical testing and hypothesis testing. However, the authors argue that this perspective is limited in its ability to capture the complexity and context of information systems phenomena. They propose alternative research philosophies, such as interpretive and critical, which emphasize the role of social processes, meanings, and interpretations in understanding information systems phenomena. The interpretive perspective, in particular, is highlighted as a valuable alternative, as it allows for a more nuanced understanding of the social and contextual dimensions of information systems research. The authors conclude that a combination of research perspectives can provide a more comprehensive understanding of information systems phenomena.The paper examines 155 behavioral information systems research articles published between 1983 and 1988, revealing that while the field lacks a single overarching theoretical perspective, it shares a common set of philosophical assumptions about valid evidence and phenomena. These assumptions are rooted in the natural science tradition, which may not be suitable for studying the complex, contextual relationships between information technology and people or organizations. The authors argue that the dominant research perspective in information systems research is not well-suited to studying situated interactions over time and propose additional research philosophies, such as interpretive and critical, to enrich the field. They conclude that multiple research perspectives can be useful in the information systems community to deepen understanding of behavioral information systems phenomena. The paper discusses the dominant positivist perspective in behavioral information systems research, which assumes an objective, independent physical and social world, and that knowledge is derived from empirical testing and hypothesis testing. However, the authors argue that this perspective is limited in its ability to capture the complexity and context of information systems phenomena. They propose alternative research philosophies, such as interpretive and critical, which emphasize the role of social processes, meanings, and interpretations in understanding information systems phenomena. The interpretive perspective, in particular, is highlighted as a valuable alternative, as it allows for a more nuanced understanding of the social and contextual dimensions of information systems research. The authors conclude that a combination of research perspectives can provide a more comprehensive understanding of information systems phenomena.