The Problem of Information: An Introduction to Information Science / Edition 1

by Douglas Raber

Overview

Information can be conceptualized in two fundamentally yet contradictory ways_it appears in the world as both a physical and a cognitive phenomenon. The dilemma information specialists face is similar to that of physicists who must cope with light as both a wave and a particle. Unlike physics, however, information science has yet to develop a unified theory that unites the contradictory conceptions of its essential theoretical object. While there are numerous books today that address information science as a scholarly discipline, for the most part they assume a prior knowledge of the field. The Problem of Information provides an accessible introduction to the essential concepts and research issues of information science while exploring the indeterminate nature of information as a theoretical object. Signifying how information science contributes to the disciplines from which it borrows, this book provides insight into computer science, cognitive psychology, semiotics, sociology, and political science. Designed specifically for the beginner student new to the field of information science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810845688
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/07/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.46(h) x 0.87(d)

About the Author

Douglas Raber is Associate Professor in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 1 Information Science and the Problem of Information Chapter 3 2 Paradigms and Metaphors Chapter 4 3 The Physical Metaphor Chapter 5 4 The Physical Metaphor Illustrated Chapter 6 5 The Cognitive Metaphor Chapter 7 6 The Cognitive Metaphor Illustrated Chapter 8 7 Representation of Information Chapter 9 8 Representation Illustrated Chapter 10 9 Relevance Chapter 11 10 Information as a Social Phenomena Chapter 12 11 Semiotics for Information Science Chapter 13 Bibliography Chapter 14 Index Chapter 15 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

A scholarly but highly accessible text recommended for inclusion with Library Science and Information Science reference collections because of its expertly detailed presentation of critical meta-issues concerning texts and references of all subjects.--Wisconsin Bookwatch

From the Publisher

A scholarly but highly accessible text recommended for inclusion with Library Science and Information Science reference collections because of its expertly detailed presentation of critical meta-issues concerning texts and references of all subjects.

Wisconsin Bookwatch