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Meanings of information: The assumptions and research consequences of three foundational LIS theories

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  • Lai Ma

Abstract

This article addresses the question “what is information?” by comparing the meaning of the term “information” and epistemological assumptions of three theories in library and information science: the “Shannon‐Weaver model,” Brookes’ interpretation of Popper's World 3, and the Data‐Information‐Knowledge‐Wisdom model. It shows that the term “information” in these theories refers to empirical entities or events and is conceptualized as having causal powers upon human minds. It is argued that the epistemological assumptions have led to the negligence of the cultural and social aspects of the constitution of information (i.e., how something is considered to be and not to be information) and the unquestioned nature of science in research methodologies.

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  • Lai Ma, 2012. "Meanings of information: The assumptions and research consequences of three foundational LIS theories," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 63(4), pages 716-723, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jamist:v:63:y:2012:i:4:p:716-723
    DOI: 10.1002/asi.21711
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    Cited by:

    1. Tim Gorichanaz, 2020. "Understanding and Information in the Work of Visual Artists," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 71(6), pages 685-695, June.
    2. Kate McDowell, 2021. "Storytelling wisdom: Story, information, and DIKW," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 72(10), pages 1223-1233, October.
    3. Lai Ma, 2022. "Information: Keywords. Kennerly, Michele, Frederick, Samuel, and Abel, Jonathan E New York: Columbia University Press, 2021. 232 pp. $110.00 (hardcover). (ISBN: 9780231198769)," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 73(7), pages 1058-1061, July.

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