The increasing demand for knowledge workers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution necessitates robust doctoral programs. Doctoral students are expected to be independent, contributing original research and advancing knowledge. However, many doctoral programs, particularly those utilizing the 'PhD by Publication' model, tend to constrain students to positivist or interpretivist frameworks. Liezel Frick's work highlights the need for pedagogical changes to support PhD by publication, emphasizing the transformation of students into scholars. This paper addresses Frick's call by examining the state of PhD by publication and proposing critical realism as a valuable research philosophy, bridging the gap in available methodological guidance.

A documentary analysis of academic regulations from 101 universities across the UK, Ireland, South Africa, and Australia revealed a lack of standardization in PhD by publication nomenclature and format. While regulations often define the 'form' (number and type of publications), they rarely mandate the research philosophy. The literature review focused on identifying the use of critical realism in doctoral studies using Web of Science and Google Scholar. This search demonstrated the limited adoption of critical realism in doctoral programs despite its potential to offer deeper insights through the investigation of generative mechanisms and demi-regularities. The limited use of critical realism in doctoral studies is also evidenced in analyses of selected journals, including the International Journal of Social Research Methodology, Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, and others.

This research employed an exploratory and investigative multimethod approach, underpinned by critical realism. The methodology is structured around four pillars: research philosophy, approach, strategy, and methods. The research philosophy is critical realism, emphasizing a multimethod approach that employs the most suitable methods rather than forcing integration (as in mixed-methods). The strategy involved exploratory inquiry using narrative analysis, documentary analysis of university regulations, and a scoping review of literature. Data sources included university websites and academic databases, analyzed using narrative and discourse analysis, supplemented by Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. The analysis involved logical reasoning and argumentation, incorporating elements of the author's autoethnography and scenario play. The focus was on information systems and digital technologies, particularly the materiality of IT assets.

The research revealed a significant gap in the methodological guidance available to doctoral students utilizing critical realism, particularly within the PhD by publication model. While critical realism offers a robust philosophical foundation, it is not prescriptive regarding specific methods. This lack of guidance contributes to the underutilization of critical realism in doctoral studies. Universities' regulations were found to be inconsistent regarding PhD by publication, focusing largely on the 'form' rather than the underlying philosophical approach. Analysis of the existing literature concerning critical realism and PhD studies highlighted the scarcity of clear methodological frameworks. To address this gap, the paper introduces the IDADA framework, a five-phase, non-linear process (Identify, Define, Analyze, Develop, Apply). Each phase is described, illustrating its application through a scenario focused on the materiality of digital technologies and IT assets. The IDADA framework uses critical realism concepts such as stratified ontology, demi-regularities, and generative mechanisms to guide the research process. The framework emphasizes the importance of iterative validation and publication throughout each phase. Critical examination of existing theories and conceptual frameworks is central to the IDADA framework, using those theories to shape but not determine the research. The scenario exploring the materiality of digital technologies demonstrates how IDADA guides research by addressing issues of coherence and explaining the mechanisms that define IT assets and their risks.

The IDADA framework directly addresses the challenges identified in the literature review and documentary analysis. It provides a structured but flexible approach that allows doctoral students to leverage the explanatory power of critical realism while maintaining methodological rigor. The non-linear nature of the framework allows for iterative refinement and adaptation throughout the research process, enabling the generation of multiple publications. The framework's application to the case of digital technologies demonstrates its utility in explicating complex phenomena and generating meaningful contributions to the field. The IDADA framework encourages researchers to go beyond simple observation and discussion of findings, pushing for a deeper understanding of underlying causal mechanisms and contributing to more impactful research.

This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on PhD by publication by introducing the IDADA methodological framework, a practical, solution-centric approach grounded in critical realism. IDADA addresses the lack of clear methodological guidance for doctoral students employing critical realism, offering a structured yet flexible five-phase process for generating publishable outputs. Future research could explore the longitudinal impact of IDADA on PhD by publication outcomes and its adaptability across diverse research fields.

The scoping review's reliance on Web of Science and Google Scholar as primary literature sources may limit the comprehensiveness of the findings. The choice of search terms could also influence the results. However, efforts were made to mitigate this through purposeful follow-up and reverse citation searching. Further research is needed to validate the effectiveness of the IDADA framework across different disciplines and contexts.