A Network Theoretical Approach to Assess Knowledge Integration in Information Studies

glossariumBITri’s Co-occurrence network. Term frequency occurrence & co-ocurrence > 50; Colours: semantic clusters determined by intermediation measurements. Adverbial and prepositional categories are excluded.

By: José María Díaz-Nafría (BITrum-Research Group, Spain; Munich University of Applied Sciences, Germany), Teresa Guarda (Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Ecuador; Algoritmi Centre, Minho University, Portugal), Iván Coronel (Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Ecuador)

Published in: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 94.
Springer, Cham. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78605-6_31

Abstract: The paper presents a general approach to assess knowledge integration as a basis to evaluate the performance of transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches with respect to their knowledge integration capacity. The method is based on the development of Interdisciplinary-glossaries as tools for the elucidation of the conceptual networks involved in interdisciplinary studies. Such ID-glossaries are used as proxies of the corresponding knowledge integration, which is measured through the structural analysis of the co-occurrence network of terms. This approach is applied to an ID-glossary devoted to the general study of information, called glossariumBITri. The results show the capacity of the approach to detect integration achievements, challenges and barriers. Its qualitative nature is complemented by an enhanced methodology in which both the diversity   of disciplines and the knowledge integration can be measured in a bi-dimensional index. To that purpose each contribution to the target ID-glossary is identified by the knowledge domains involved (using a set of knowledge domains adapted from the higher categories of the Universal Decimal Classification), while the integration is measured in terms of the small-world coefficient of the co-occurrence of terms.

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glossariumBITri (second edition): Interdisciplinary Elucidation of concepts, metaphors, theories and problems concerning information

e-Book – 2. English Edition – 2014/2015

Coordinated by: J.M. Díaz Nafría, F. Salto Alemany, M. Pérez-Montoro Gutiérrez

Developed by: Juan Miguel Aguado, Carlos Aguilar, Basil Al Hadithi, Yorgos Andreadakis, Balu Athreya, Leticia Barrionuevo, Mark Burgin, Sylvia Burset, Søren Brier, Manuel Campos, Rafael Capurro, Eva Carbonero, Emilia Curras, José Maria Díaz, Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic, Peter Fleissner, Anto Florio, Anabel Fraga, Christian Fuchs, Xosé Antón García-Sampedro, Roberto Gejman, Mehrad Golkhosravi, Daniel Gómez, Igor Gurevich, Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Anthony Hoffmann, Agustín Jiménez, Manuel Liz, Rosa Macarro, Alfredo Marcos, Estela Mastromatteo, Jorge Morato, José Antonio Moreiro, Mercedes Osorio , Julio Ostalé, Mario Pérez-Montoro, Carmen Requena, Alexis Rocha, Blanca Rodríguez, Francisco Salto, Lydia Sánchez, Sonia Sánchez-Cuadrado, Carlos Sarmiento, Jérôme Segal, Margarita Vázquez

Published: Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena – ISBN : 978-9942-8548-3-4, with Creative Common License 3.0

Introduction

“There have always been thinkers to believe that the fields of human knowledge betrays a fundamental unity. In modern times people ready to discuss this unity have come under grave suspicion. Surely, the critics argue, no man is so presumptuous as to imagine that he can comprehend more than a tiny fraction of the scope of contemporary science. […] And yet there are still men prepared to pursue the path of unity, and to discuss problems in an inter-disciplinary fashion: that is, without regard to the specialised viewpoint of any one branch of science.”
Stafford BEER (Cybernetics and Management, 1959)

Four years after appearing the first book edition of the glossariumBITri (gB), it faces now a new phase of development, in which this new book version represents a milestone. The first development phase, 2008-2010, was clearly marked by an intensive cooperative work to stand up the clarification enterprise in which the gB is embarked on. Right after such phase, the gB was nurtured through valuable inputs covering essential aspects as semiotics, computation, complexity, etc., by distinguished researchers who have certainly enriched not only this book but the working team who is now before a more ambitious horizon.
Besides some improvements in previous articles, the most important additions to the previous edition, incorporated herewith, corresponds to the articles developed in the areas of algorithmic theory, complexity theory, General Theory of Information and Cybersemiotics that we heartily thank to the cherished contributions of Mark Burgin and Søren Brier. Nevertheless, the flesh of the glossariumBITri has been enriched as well through entries, which do not show up in this book since they are still under review or discussion, but they surely will in the next edition. They are, of course, available in the interactive-gB. For this dressing up the naked bones of the gB, we warmly thank the contributions provided by Balu Athreya, Igor Gurevich, Basil Al-Hadithi, Agustín Jiménez, Alexis Rocha, Daniel Gómez, Carlos Sarmiento. The incorporation of some of the topics which are now available, either in this book or in the interactive-gB was simply a must (as algorithmic information), others represent an initiation into fields we have to deepen (as information in biological sciences). But nonetheless, if we take into account all the concepts we have not weaved yet into the network of clarified concepts, metaphors, theories and problems, then we can clearly state that we are at the very beginning. By simply looking into the interactive-gB’s list of open voices, which are still empty, or into the number of voice proposal we have not open yet, it is easy to conclude we are before a large and of course open enterprise.

 

Glossarium BITri: glossary of concepts, metaphors, theories and problems concerning information

e-Book – 1. bilingual Edition – 2010

Coordinated by: J.M. Díaz Nafría, F. Salto Alemany, M. Pérez-Montoro Gutiérrez

Developed by: Juan Miguel Aguado, Carlos Aguilar, Basil Al Hadithi, Yorgos Andreadakis, Leticia Barrionuevo, Sylvia Burset, Manuel Campos, Rafael Capurro, Eva Carbonero, Emilia Curras, José Maria Díaz, Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic, Peter Fleissner, Anto Florio, Anabel Fraga, Christian Fuchs, Xosé Antón García-Sampedro, Roberto Gejman, Mehrad Golkhosravi, Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Anthony Hoffmann, Manuel Liz, Rosa Macarro, Alfredo Marcos, Estela Mastromatteo, Jorge Morato, José Antonio Moreiro, Mercedes Osorio , Julio Ostalé, Mario Pérez-Montoro, Carmen Requena, Blanca Rodríguez, Francisco Salto, Lydia Sánchez, Sonia Sánchez-Cuadrado, Jérôme Segal, Margarita Vázquez

Published: Universidad de León – ISBN : 978-84-9773-554-4, with Creative Common License 3.0

Introduction

Terms included in this glossary recap some of the main concepts, theories, problems and metaphors concerning INFORMATION in all spheres of knowledge.  This is the first edition of an ambitious enterprise covering at its completion all relevant notions relating to INFORMATION in any scientific context. As such, this Glossarium BITri is part of the broader project BITrum, which is committed to the mutual understanding of all disciplines devoted to information across fields of knowledge and practice.

This glossary pretends to make explicit the conflicts and agreements among use and meaning of terms related to information phenomena. Information is approached from opposing paradigms and also from competing and cooperating disciplines. Both in science and in ordinary life, conceptual, ethical, technical and societal problems regard information in an essential way. This glossary does not endorse or presuppose any paradigm or any theory, but rather locates into a public, explicit and commonly understandable space some of the crucial assumptions dividing informational concepts, theories, problems and metaphors. Moreover, we purport to embrace all distinct paradigms with a critical and comprehensive attitude.

The glossary is the result of an original methodology, which places any entrance under the responsibility of its editor. Authors possibly distinct from the editor contribute to different articles with texts, comments or discussions. Since authors come from many distinct fields of knowledge, each article should reflect many perspectival but rigorous approaches.

The glossary is an open work: the number and contents of all its entrances are updated and submitted to revision by editors and authors. For this reason, this first edition is only a first step in the active development of this collaborative methodology. Any interested reader wishing to contribute, may contact the general editors.

This glossary is most indebted to the enthusiasm and work of José María Díaz Nafría. The editorial team, authors and correctors thank the Universidad de León and Caja España for their support to this initiative.

Francisco Salto Alemany, León, November 2010

Contents: Introduction (in English and Spanish), Glossary (in English and Spanish), Indexes, Methodology, Abbreviations, Editorial team.

• Access to the electronic book of the GlossariumBITri
• Publication Announcement in Glossarium BITri electronic system
• Cover of the book case (DVD size, CD size)