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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Metatheoretical Snowmen: A Pedagogical Gedankenexperiment In Information Metatheory, Jenna Hartel Aug 2012

Metatheoretical Snowmen: A Pedagogical Gedankenexperiment In Information Metatheory, Jenna Hartel

Jenna Hartel

Metatheory is the highest level conceptual device used in social scientific research and determines a way of thinking and speaking about reality and its information phenomena. Today, numerous metatheories exist in information science and create a dynamic climate. There is also widespread confusion about metatheory because it is a relatively new, abstract and elusive concept for students, practitioners and scholars alike. The article introduces metatheory in information science and its ontological, methodological, social and personal implications. Then "Metatheoretical Snowmen," a novel pedagogical strategy, is described. Metatheoretical Snowmen demystifies information metatheory through a gedankenexperiment, that is, a thought experiment. In Metatheoretical …


Metatheoretical Snowmen Ii, Jenna K. Hartel, Jonathan Furner, Soo Young Rieh, Nicolas Belkin, Michael Ollsen, Marcia Bates, Andrew Dillon Jan 2011

Metatheoretical Snowmen Ii, Jenna K. Hartel, Jonathan Furner, Soo Young Rieh, Nicolas Belkin, Michael Ollsen, Marcia Bates, Andrew Dillon

Jenna Hartel

Metatheory is the highest level conceptual device used in research and determines a way of thinking and speaking about reality and its information behavior. Today, numerous metatheories exist in information studies and create a dynamic climate, yet also some confusion. This panel aims to demystify methatheory by addressing the matter in a playful, comparative, competitive spirit. Articulate champions of five major metatheories will be given an opportunity to cast their metatheory onto the life and information experience of an ordinary and affable persona: a snowman. The vivid renderings of the snowman and its information world will bring the features of …


Metatheoretical Snowmen, Jenna Hartel, Jonathan Furner, Steve Fuller, Birger Hjorland, Ross Todd, Siobhan Stevenson, Jens-Erik Mai Jan 2010

Metatheoretical Snowmen, Jenna Hartel, Jonathan Furner, Steve Fuller, Birger Hjorland, Ross Todd, Siobhan Stevenson, Jens-Erik Mai

Jenna Hartel

Metatheory is the highest level conceptual device used in research and determines a way of thinking and speaking about reality and its information phenomena. Today, numerous metatheories exist in information science and create a dynamic climate, yet also some confusion. This panel aims to demystify methatheory by addressing the matter in a playful, comparative, competitive spirit. Articulate champions of five major metatheories will be given an opportunity to cast their metatheory onto the life and information experience of an ordinary and affable persona: a snowman. The vivid renderings of the snowman and its information world will bring the features of …


Metatheoretical Snowmen, Jenna K. Hartel Jan 2009

Metatheoretical Snowmen, Jenna K. Hartel

Jenna Hartel

Metatheory is the highest level conceptual device used in research and determines a way of thinking and speaking about reality and its information phenomena. Today, numerous metatheories exist in information science and create a dynamic climate, yet also some confusion. This panel aims to demystify methatheory by addressing the matter in a playful, comparative, competitive spirit. Articulate champions of five major metatheories will be given an opportunity to cast their metatheory onto the life and information experience of an ordinary and affable persona: a snowman. The vivid renderings of the snowman and its information world will bring the features of …