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Research Article
Conceptions of information science
Article first published online: 27 DEC 2006
DOI: 10.1002/asi.20507
Copyright © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company
Issue
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology
Volume 58, Issue 3, pages 335–350, 1 February 2007
Additional Information
How to Cite
Zins, C. (2007), Conceptions of information science. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci., 58: 335–350. doi: 10.1002/asi.20507
Publication History
- Issue published online: 26 JAN 2007
- Article first published online: 27 DEC 2006
- Manuscript Revised: 10 MAR 2006
- Manuscript Accepted: 10 MAR 2006
- Manuscript Received: 15 NOV 2005
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
The field of information science is constantly changing. Therefore, information scientists are required to regularly review—and if necessary—redefine its fundamental building blocks. This article is one of four articles that documents the results of the Critical Delphi study conducted in 2003–2005. The study, “Knowledge Map of Information Science,” was aimed at exploring the foundations of information science. The international panel was composed of 57 leading scholars from 16 countries who represent nearly all the major subfields and important aspects of the field. In this study, the author documents 50 definitions of information science, maps the major theoretical issues relevant to the formulation of a systematic conception, formulates six different conceptions of the field, and discusses their implications.