Theory development in the information sciences / edited by Diane H. Sonnenwald.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Sonnenwald, Diane H., editor.

Series:

Information

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Information science.

Information theory.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (344 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Austin, [Texas] : University of Texas Press, 2016.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Emerging as a discipline in the first half of the twentieth century, the information sciences study how people, groups, organizations, and governments create, share, disseminate, manage, search, access, evaluate, and protect information, as well as how different technologies and policies can facilitate and constrain these activities. Given the broad span of the information sciences, it is perhaps not surprising that there is no consensus regarding its underlying theory--the purposes of it, the types of it, or how one goes about developing new theories to talk about new research questions. Diane H. Sonnenwald and the contributors to this volume seek to shed light on these issues by sharing reflections on the theory-development process. These reflections are not meant to revolve around data collection and analysis; rather, they focus on the struggles, challenges, successes, and excitement of developing theories. The particular theories that the contributors explore in their essays range widely, from theories of literacy and reading to theories of design and digital search. Several chapters engage with theories of the behavior of individuals and groups; some deal with processes of evaluation; others reflect on questions of design; and the rest treat cultural and scientific heritage. The ultimate goal, Sonnenwald writes in her introduction, is to "encourage, inspire, and assist individuals striving to develop and/or teach theory development."

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Figures

Tables

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 EXPLORING THEORY DEVELOPMENT: LEARNING FROM DIVERSE MASTERS

Part 1 BEHAVIOR OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS

Chapter 2 MANY PATHS TO THEORY: THE CREATIVE PROCESS IN THE INFORMATION SCIENCES

Chapter 3 REFLECTIONS ON THEORY CONSTRUCTION IN HUMAN INFORMATION BEHAVIOR: A THEORY OF BROWSING

Chapter 4 REFLECTIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE

Chapter 5 CONVERGING ON THEORY FROM FOUR SIDES

Part 2 EVALUATION

Chapter 6 DRAWING GRAPHS FOR THEORY DEVELOPMENT IN BIBLIOMETRICS AND RETRIEVAL

Chapter 7 TWO VIEWS ON THEORY DEVELOPMENT FOR INTERACTIVE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL

Chapter 8 RELEVANCE: IN SEARCH OF A THEORETICAL FOUNDATION

Chapter 9 THE STORY OF A COLONY: THEORY DEVELOPMENT IN WEBOMETRIC RESEARCH

Part 3 DESIGN

Chapter 10 THEORIZING THE UNPRECEDENTED

Chapter 11 APPROPRIATING THEORY

Chapter 12 THEORY FOR DESIGN: THE CASE OF READING

Part 4 CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE

Chapter 13 THE POVERTY OF THEORY; OR, THE EDUCATION OF JEROME MCGANN

Chapter 14 ILLUMINATING DAUGHTER-MOTHER NARRATIVES IN YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Chapter 15 THE NOBLEST PLEASURE: THEORIES OF UNDERSTANDING IN THE INFORMATION SCIENCES

Chapter 16 APOLOGIA PRO THEORIA SUA

Chapter 17 SUPPORTING FUTURE THEORY DEVELOPMENT

Notes on the Contributors

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-4773-0825-3

OCLC:

1280945417