"Human" epistemologic perspectives in documentation

Abstract

Even though the bulk of information science research has been of a practical nature, in recent years a substantial change has come about since research centred on theoretical problems has risen considerably. The vast majority of it has focused on the discussion about the most adequate paradigm: physical, positivist, cognitive, domain analysis, hermeneutic, etc., producing a deep conceptual and terminological confusion. This paper analyses the most important aspects of the three main epistemological perspectives (positivist, cognitive and sociological), while devotes special attention to the latter two due the fact that most current theoretical research is concerned with them. The analysis of their strengths and weaknesses allows us to conclude that the solution might be to build a broad and comprehensive framework which enables the accommodation and integration of different epistemological positions, each giving a partial view of the whole and supplementing the other.