This week we would like you write a blog reflection about Empiricism. How do you feel about it? Are you an Empiricist yourself? Why or why not? In what way? Is this the kind of research you prefer to read? Is this the kind of research you would like to do?
Go beyond this. What are the problems that you see with Empiricism? Can they be overcome?
Empiricist. One who asserts that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. Yep, that's me.
That is to say that I will also agree with others who have demonstrated knowledge of a subject or outcome of an experiment, and have the evidence to support their findings. However in a professional setting, I do prefer to at least verify the research and data myself in order to completely trust what is being presented.
As information scientists, we must be willing to conduct the research. If for no other reason than to trust our own definitions of what information really is. My definition of information - as it is currently developing - is that information is a function of the three-way-test of relevance, relativity and reliability. If I do not conduct the research personally, the reliability of the evidence is questioned, as are the collection methods.
I prefer to read empirical research, especially as it relates to the field of information science. This is an interdisciplinary, or trans-disciplinary, field. Research used to create arguments and discussions in information science must be empirical in order for the field itself to remain credible.
The problems with empiricism are numerous, however chiefly among them is time. Conducting one's own research and experiments takes time and resources. Sometimes a researcher may not have either, so must learn to accept the findings of others. As an empiricist, the onus is upon me, if ever in this situation, to ensure that I have a solid understanding of information quality in order to accept another's research as trustworthy.
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