Data realities in plural contexts : appraisal of a definition [of social informatics]

Cole, Fletcher Data realities in plural contexts : appraisal of a definition [of social informatics]., 2006 . In 69th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIST), Austin (US), 3-8 November 2006. [Conference paper]

[thumbnail of Cole_Data.pdf]
Preview
 PDF
Cole_Data.pdf
Download (77kB) | Preview

English abstract

The meaning of "context" within the definition of social informatics (SI) is explored. The most general context of interest is formed by the relationship between the broad categories of the "technological" and the "social," as they are manifest in information and communication technologies (ICTs). Within and between these broad categories there are numerous distinct but inter-related contexts. Contextual complexity at a more detailed level is illustrated through close examination of the data-related references in a textual description of geographic information systems (GIS). A six-category taxonomy is used to highlight the complex cross-referencing between inter-related vocabularies that reflects the multiple contextual realities involved. They reveal themselves as open to multiple and continuing interpretation within different contexts at different levels of conceptualisation. Practical implications include suggestions that current generalist approaches to systems design may be too removed from the specifics of the task at hand, and that information professionals in their education and training need to be exposed to a wide range of perspectives, reflecting the various human contexts in which their technical expertise is likely to be deployed. What is desirable is a sophisticated appreciation of the many contexts in which ICTs function.

Item type: Conference paper
Keywords: social informatics ; context ; geographic information systems ; GIS ; cross-referencing ; vocabularies
Subjects: I. Information treatment for information services > IB. Content analysis (A and I, class.)
Depositing user: Norm Medeiros
Date deposited: 21 Dec 2006
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:05
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/8652

References

Bowker, G.C., Star, S.L., Turner, W. & Gasser, L. (eds.) (1997) Social Science, Technical Systems, and Cooperative Work Mahwah:.Lawrence Erlbaum Associates

Burrough, P.A. & McDonnell, R.A. (1998) Principles of Geographical Information Systems 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Cole, F. (2005) The discourse of data: Exploring data-related vocabularies in geographic information systems description Journal of Information Science 31(1), 44-56

Cova, T.J. & Goodchild, M.F. (2002) Extending geographical representation to include fields of spatial objects International Journal of Geographical Information Science 16(6), 509-532

Douglas, M. (1992) Rightness of categories In Douglas, M., & Hull, D. (eds.) How Classification Works: Nelson Goodman among the Social Scientists 239-271. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press

Elmasri, R. & Navathe, S.B. (2004) Fundamentals of Database Systems 4th ed. Reading: Addison-Wesley

Foucault, M. (1977) Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison Harmondsworth: Penguin

Goodwin, C. & Duranti, A. (1992) Rethinking context: An introduction In Duranti, A. & Goodwin, C. (eds.) Rethinking Context: Language as an Interactive Phenomenon 1-42. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Habermas, J. (1984) The Theory of Communicative Action Boston: Beacon Press

Habermas, J.; Shapiro, J.J. (trans.) (1987) Toward a Rational Society: Student Protest, Science, and Politics Cambridge: Polity

Haraway, D. (1997) Modest_Witness@Second_Millenium London: Routledge

Heath, C. & Luff, P. (2000) Technology in Action Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Hirschheim, R.A., Klein, H.K. & Lyytinen, K.J. (1995) Information Systems Development and Data Modelling: Conceptual and Philosophical Foundations Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Kling, R., Rosenbaum, H. & Sawyer, S. (2005) Understanding and Communicating Social Informatics: A Framework for Studying and Teaching the Human Contexts of Information and Communication Technologies Medford, NJ: Information Today

Lave, J. and Wenger, E. (1991) Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Law, J. (2003) Networks, Relations, Cyborgs: on the Social Study of Technology http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/sociology/papers/Law-Networks-Relations-Cyborgs.pdf(Centre for Science Studies, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YN, UK. Last revised on 6th December 2003; previously published 2000. )

Livingston, E. (1995) An Anthropology of Reading Bloomington: Indiana University Press Longley, P.A. et al (eds.) (1999) Geographical Information Systems New York: Wiley

Lyons, J. (1995) Linguistic Semantics Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Machlup, F. (1983) Semantic quirks in the study of information In Machlup, F. & Mansfield, U. (eds.) The Study of Information: Interdisciplinary Messages 641-671 New York: Wiley

MacKenzie, D. (1996) Negotiating arithmetic, constructing proof In Knowing Machines: Essays on Technical Change 165-183. Cambridge MA: MIT Press

MacKenzie, D. & Wajcman, J. (eds.) (1999) The Social Shaping of Technology 2nd ed. Buckingham: Open University Press

Malinowski, B. (1923) The problem of meaning in primitive languages In Ogden, C.K. & Richards, I.A. (eds.) The Meaning of Meaning 296-336. London: Kegan Paul

Malinowski, B. (1935) Coral Gardens and their Magic London: Allen & Unwin

Molenaar, M. (1998) An Introduction to the Theory of Spatial Object Modelling for GIS London: Taylor & Francis

Peuquet, D.J. (1984) conceptual framework and comparison of spatial data models Cartographica 21(4), 66-113

Rhind, D.W. & Green, N.P.A. (1988) Design of a geographical information system for a heterogenous scientific community International Journal of Geographical Information Systems 2(2), 171-189

Rogers, Y. (1997) Reconfiguring the social scientist In Bowker, G.C. et al (eds.) Social Science, Technical Systems, and Cooperative Work 57-77. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates

Sawyer, S. & Eschenfelder, K.R. (2002) Social informatics: Perspectives, examples, and trends ARIST: Annual Review of Information Science and Technology 36, 427-465

Schuurman, E.; Morton, H.D. (trans.) (1980) Technology and the Future: A Philosophical Challenge [Techniek en toekomst] Wedge, Toronto

Sheppard, E. (2001) Geographic information systems: Critical approaches In International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences 9, 6182-6185 Amsterdam: Elsevier

Suchman, L.A. & Trigg, R.H. (1993) Artificial intelligence as craftwork In Chaiklin, S. & Lave, J. (eds.) Understanding Practice: Perspectives on Activity and Context 144-178. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Van Maanen, J. & Barley, S.R. (1984) Occupational communities: Culture and control in organizations Research in Organizational Behavior 6, 287-365

Worboys, M.F. (1995) GIS: A Computing Perspective London; Taylor & Francis

Worboys, M.F. & Duckham, M. (2004) GIS: A Computing Perspective 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press


Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
Contact us
Send email Sponsors
Sponsor: AIMS Sponsor: D&P Sponsor: UniNa CAB Get connected
Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Linkedin LinkedIn RSS RSS