This report examines the 1984 library and information science literature in order to characterize, analyze, and evaluate the published research of the field. The subjects and methods of research, types of libraries studied, and analytical techniques used are examined; a "core" journal group of 91 sources is established; and the amount…

Examines the literature on the myth of "hard science-soft science" as a means of defining scientific specialties and classifying science literature, and discusses some shortcomings of scholarship in library and information science. Use of Toulmin's categorization of sciences to organize the literature and provide access for scientists is…

Introduces Q-analysis, a methodology for investigating a wide range of structural phenomena that defines structures in terms of relations between members of sets and reveals their salient features by using techniques of algebraic topology. Applications relevant to librarianship and information science are reviewed and present limitations…

Study comparing statistical use in 99 journals from four subject areas (library and information science [LIS], education, social work, business) found that: LIS produced more articles making no use of statistics; and only in LIS were there more articles using only descriptive techniques than articles using inferential techniques. (17 references)…

Discusses the goals of French academic research policy in the field of information science, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of the field. Areas of research highlighted include communication, telecommunications, co-word analysis in scientific and technical documents, media, and statistical methods for the study of social sciences. (LRW)