Weak Information Work and “Doable” Problems in Interdisciplinary Science

Palmer, Carole L. Weak Information Work and “Doable” Problems in Interdisciplinary Science., 2006 . In 69th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIST), Austin (US), 3-8 November 2006. [Conference paper]

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English abstract

Drawing on results from two studies of information use in interdisciplinary science, this paper develops the concept of weak information work (WIW). WIW is examined in relation to a model of how different levels of research work are coordinated and a second framework that delineates dimensions of research problems. Scenarios from neuroinformatics case studies are presented to show how WIW is impacting interdisciplinary projects in brain research. Based on the integration of our results with existing frameworks for understanding scientific research problems and processes, we assert that contemporary interdisciplinary research could benefit from information systems and services devoted to supporting some lines of WIW and by transforming others into strong information work.

Item type: Conference paper
Keywords: information use ; interdisciplinary research ; scientific research problems
Subjects: B. Information use and sociology of information > BA. Use and impact of information.
Depositing user: Norm Medeiros
Date deposited: 18 Dec 2006
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:05
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/8636

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