A non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities

A new model of information sharing practices in academic communities is based on Latour's circulatory system of scientific facts, and some elements of Foster's non-linear model of information-seeking behavior. The main proposition of this model is that information-sharing practices and con...

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Main Authors: Tabak, E., Willson, Michele
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44093
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author Tabak, E.
Willson, Michele
author_facet Tabak, E.
Willson, Michele
author_sort Tabak, E.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description A new model of information sharing practices in academic communities is based on Latour's circulatory system of scientific facts, and some elements of Foster's non-linear model of information-seeking behavior. The main proposition of this model is that information-sharing practices and context simultaneously shape each other. The proposed model supports Foster's conceptualization of information practices as non-linear processes, but its emphasis on the interdependence between context and information practices provides a more effective means to capture complex negotiations involved in information-sharing practices. The proposition is that the major reason for nonlinearity in information practices is a continuous shifting of actors' interests, pressures, and concerns. Capturing these dynamic relations becomes possible through this model. The model also offers a way to generate a number of research questions and hypotheses, and as such it could be a useful tool for empirical studies on information sharing in academic communities.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2012
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-440932017-09-13T15:57:40Z A non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities Tabak, E. Willson, Michele A new model of information sharing practices in academic communities is based on Latour's circulatory system of scientific facts, and some elements of Foster's non-linear model of information-seeking behavior. The main proposition of this model is that information-sharing practices and context simultaneously shape each other. The proposed model supports Foster's conceptualization of information practices as non-linear processes, but its emphasis on the interdependence between context and information practices provides a more effective means to capture complex negotiations involved in information-sharing practices. The proposition is that the major reason for nonlinearity in information practices is a continuous shifting of actors' interests, pressures, and concerns. Capturing these dynamic relations becomes possible through this model. The model also offers a way to generate a number of research questions and hypotheses, and as such it could be a useful tool for empirical studies on information sharing in academic communities. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44093 10.1016/j.lisr.2011.11.002 Elsevier fulltext
spellingShingle Tabak, E.
Willson, Michele
A non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities
title A non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities
title_full A non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities
title_fullStr A non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities
title_full_unstemmed A non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities
title_short A non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities
title_sort non-linear model of information sharing practices in academic communities
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44093