
handle: 2142/89820
Information science is not a science, nor is it primarily about information. In this paper, an argument is developed in support of the latter claim. A working definition of information is proposed, and doubts are raised about the extent to which each of five core subfields of information science/studies (information behavior, information retrieval, infometrics, information organization, and information ethics) has to do with information as defined. Several alternative candidates for the primary phenomenon of interest shared by those working in all five subfields are considered: these include data studies; knowledge studies; metadata studies; representation studies; relevance studies; and (as a branch of cultural studies) collection, preservation, and access studies. A prime candidate is identified, and some implications of such a reading for the application of philosophical approaches to information science/studies are highlighted.
020, Librarianship, Libraries, Information & Library Sciences, Basic Behavioral and Social Science, Philosophies of Information, 004, Library and Information Studies, Information and Computing Sciences, Behavioral and Social Science, Information Science, Library and information studies
020, Librarianship, Libraries, Information & Library Sciences, Basic Behavioral and Social Science, Philosophies of Information, 004, Library and Information Studies, Information and Computing Sciences, Behavioral and Social Science, Information Science, Library and information studies
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| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
