Opinion paper. On theory development in information science

James G. Williams and Chai Kim

Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 1975, vol. 26, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: This paper attempts to evaluate two articles; one recently read to the ASIS Special Interest Group on Foundations of Information Science (SIG/FIS) by Heilprin, and the other published in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science by Artandi, which deal with the theoretical problems of defining “information” and/or “information science.” To that end, definitions, types, functions, forms of presentation and validation criteria of a theory are discussed with relation to science in general and to information science in particular. Arguments are made that: 1. information science is at present a practice‐oriented discipline, thus, good practice should be based on sound theory; 2. in the field of information more emphasis should be given to theory development; and 3. more precise and formal methods should be employed for presenting a theory so that it may be properly understood by practitioners and theoreticians.

Date: 1975
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:jamest:v:26:y:1975:i:1:p:1-9

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