Part of LI 500

Part of LI 500 277.

Reviews the concept of thematic analysis, discusses its strengths and limitations, and explores the applicability of the concept to the literature of information science through an examination of articles from volumes 16-27 of the Journal of the American Society for Information Science. A 16-item reference list is attached. (JL)

Discusses the empirical importance of Shannon's Information Theory and its impact on information science, and investigates the principle of least effort as a means of broadening the empirical foundation of Information Theory. Listed are 14 sources. (Author/RBF)

Summarizes the status, organization, and themes of national research programs in information science. National plans from six countries are explored with respect to the planning organizations, content of national research plans, and desirable elements of a strategy for building the new discipline. (SW)

Points out that the fundamental and unifying activity of those who work in the information field--and the basic social value of the information profession--is the facilitation of the utilization of records. Thus, the training of the information professional should emphasize three concepts: records, utilization, and facilitation. (Author)

Presents impressions and reflections on the scope of information science and studies in the field, allegiance of its professionals, and applications of its ideas in the real world. (MBR)

An analysis is made of the relationship between computers, management and trans-national corporations, followed by an examination of the influence of information systems on organization and how they function. (Author/BB)

Examines definitions of information and highlights a definition that is independent of any specific discipline. Topics include processes; a hierarchical model of information transmission; information representation; information theory; belief and knowledge; and errors, misinformation, and bad data. (67 references) (Author/LRW)

Introduces social network analysis as an approach and set of techniques for the study of information exchange. Social network analysis differs from other analysis techniques by focusing on patterns of resource exchange relationships and by emphasizing empirical observation. Measurement techniques used in social network analysis are described.…

Genetic algorithms, a class of nondeterministic algorithms in which the role of chance makes the precise nature of a solution impossible to guarantee, seem to be well suited to combinatorial-optimization problems in information retrieval. Provides an introduction to techniques and characteristics of genetic algorithms and illustrates their…

Proposes a framework for analyzing information portrayed in different media, for example, in text and in diagrams. The framework attaches information to propositions, then analyzes text and diagrams as being interpreted languages with the ability to refer to propositions. The approach is illustrated with Venn diagrams. (Author/LRW)

Discusses information as a subjective construct as opposed to an objective thing. Topics addressed include knowledge structure; modification of knowledge structure in cognitive psychology; schemata theory; schema modification in reading; top-down reading models; bottom-up reading models; and two examples of information processes. (Contains 59…

Suggests a prospective area of study for future information scientists involving the separate causes of alimentary and informational action in order to bring the separate study of information science to a more central role within the sciences. Highlights include thermodynamics and open systems, and living organisms and other open systems.…