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The 'information society' as paradigm: a bibliometric inquiry

Duff, Alistair

Authors

Alistair Duff



Abstract

It has been claimed that the 'information society' constitutes a new paradigm. The paper describes the use of online bibliometrics to investigate this claim. The methodology involved systematic searching of the databases Information Science Abstracts, Social SciSearch, INSPEC and Arts & Humanities Search. Results showed the remarkable extent and range of journal citations over a ten-year period, at least in the information, social and engineering sciences. The wide range of disciplinary, organisational and national affiliations is commented upon. Title and sample contextual analysis of papers suggests that a majority of researchers regard the concept of the 'information society' as a para digm, more or less assuming the validity of the dogmas of 'information society' theorists such as Daniel Bell. However, the searches also revealed an apparent decline in frequency of use of the term. Judged by its bibliometric behaviour, it is not yet possible to say with any certainty that the 'infor mation society' has achieved paradigmatic status. Some suggestions for further research are included.

Citation

Duff, A. (1995). The 'information society' as paradigm: a bibliometric inquiry. Journal of Information Science, 21(5), 390-395. https://doi.org/10.1177/016555159502100506

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 1995-10
Deposit Date May 16, 2016
Journal Journal of Information Science
Print ISSN 0165-5515
Electronic ISSN 1741-6485
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 21
Issue 5
Pages 390-395
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/016555159502100506
Keywords Information society; paradigm;
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9942
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/doi: 10.1177/016555159502100506




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