Research and methodological foundations of transaction log analysis

This chapter outlines and discusses theoretical and methodological foundations for transaction log analysis. We first address the fundamentals of transaction log analysis from a research viewpoint and the concept of transaction logs as a data collection technique from the perspective of behaviorism. From this research foundation, we move to the methodological aspects of transaction log analysis and examine the strengths and limitations of transaction logs as trace data. We then review the conceptualization of transaction log analysis as an unobtrusive approach to research, and present the power and deficiency of the unobtrusive methodological concept, including benefits and risks of transaction log analysis specifically from the perspective of an unobtrusive method. Some of the ethical questions concerning the collection of data via transaction log applications are discussed.