{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,20]],"date-time":"2025-10-20T17:47:31Z","timestamp":1760982451187,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2008,1,18]],"date-time":"2008-01-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1200614400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2008,1,18]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nature of collaboration within information science, to argue for distinct meanings for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and to answer two questions: What philosophic distinction can be made between inter\u2010 and multi\u2010disciplinary efforts? Is one more valuable than the other to information science research?<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The semantic inconsistency for describing collaboration is identified in information science. Philosophic analysis of the terms interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary is conducted, arguing for distinct meanings. A case study through cognitive science exploring the philosophic meanings is developed.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>Interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity are very distinct in terms of methods and frameworks. Interdisciplinary research has longer\u2010term benefits for information science, but multidisciplinary research can also fulfil valid collaborative roles in information science.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>A brief technical discussion of cognitive science theory lends itself to those interested in cognitive science. The paper is philosophic in nature.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The inconsistencies surrounding the terms interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary have impact on professional practice. The argument for more consistent terminology will introduce more semantic integrity and reduce miscommunication. There is a challenge to engage in more interdisciplinary research and practice within information science.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>Collaboration is a common term used, but little research into what it precisely means within information science has been conducted. The paper argues for a clear distinction between various types of collaboration, and provides a case study with cognitive science.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/00220410810844132","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2008,2,2]],"date-time":"2008-02-02T07:01:00Z","timestamp":1201935660000},"page":"7-23","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":51,"title":["Information science: an interdisciplinary effort?"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"64","author":[{"given":"George","family":"Adam Holland","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b1","unstructured":"Allen, B. (1991), \u201cCognitive research in information science: implications for design\u201d, Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, Vol. 26."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b2","unstructured":"(The) American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2001), Delta, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b3","unstructured":"Becher, T. and Trowler, P. (2001), Academic Tribes and Territories, 2nd ed., Open University Press, Buckingham."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Belkin, N. (1990), \u201cThe cognitive viewpoint in information science\u201d, Journal of Information Science, Vol. 16, pp. 11\u201015.","DOI":"10.1177\/016555159001600104"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b5","unstructured":"Bennington, G. (1999), \u201cInter\u201d, in McQuillan, M., MacDonald, G., Purves, R. and Thomson, S. (Eds), Post\u2010Theory: New Directions in Criticism, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, pp. 103\u201019."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Biglin, A. (1973), \u201cThe characteristics of subject matter in different academic areas\u201d, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 57 No. 3, pp. 195\u2010203.","DOI":"10.1037\/h0034701"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b7","unstructured":"Borgman, C. (2004), E\u2010Science, Digital Libraries and Knowledge Communities, Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Braun, T. and Schubert, A. (2003), \u201cA quantitative view on the coming of age of interdisciplinarity in the sciences 1980\u20101999\u201d, Scientometrics, Vol. 58 No. 1, pp. 183\u20109.","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1025439910278"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b9","unstructured":"Brier, S. (2004), \u201cCybersemiotics and the problems of the information\u2010processing paradigm as a candidate for a unified science of information behind library information science: 1\u201d, Library Trends, Vol. 52 No. 3, p. 629."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b10","unstructured":"Clark, A. (1997), Being There, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Clark, A. and Chalmers, D. (1998), \u201cThe extended mind\u201d, Analysis, Vol. 58 No. 1, pp. 7\u201019.","DOI":"10.1093\/analys\/58.1.7"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Coleman, A. (2002), \u201cInterdisciplinarity\u201d, D\u2010Lib Magazine, Vol. 8 Nos 7\/8.","DOI":"10.1045\/july2002-coleman"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b13","unstructured":"Crane, D. and Small, H. (1992), \u201cAmerican sociology since the seventies: the emerging identity crisis in the discipline\u201d, in Halliday, T. and Janowitz, M. (Eds), Sociology and Its Publics, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, pp. 197\u2010234."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b12","unstructured":"Crane, M. and Richardson, A. (1999), \u201cLiterary studies and cognitive science: toward a new interdisciplinary\u201d, Mosaic, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 123\u201040."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b14","unstructured":"de May, M. (1977), \u201cThe cognitive view point: its development and its scope\u201d, in de May, M. (Ed.), International Workshop on the Cognitive Viewpoint, University of Ghent, Ghent."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b15","unstructured":"Dogan, M. (1996), \u201cThe hybridization of social science knowledge\u201d, Library Trends, Vol. 44 No. 2, pp. 296\u2010315."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dogan, M. (2001), \u201cSpecialization and recombination of specialties in the social sciences\u201d, in Smelser, N. and Baltes, P. (Eds), International Enclyclopaedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences, pp. 14851\u20105.","DOI":"10.1016\/B0-08-043076-7\/00153-4"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Eliasmith, C. (1996), \u201cThe third contender: a critical examination of the dynamicist theory of cognition\u201d, Philosophical Psychology, Vol. 9 No. 4.","DOI":"10.1080\/09515089608573194"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b18","unstructured":"Geertz, C. (1983), Local Knowledge: Further Essays on Interpretive Anthropology, Basic Books, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b19","unstructured":"Glasrud, B. (1999), \u201cThe dark side of collaboration\u201d, Nonprofit World: Madison, Vol. 17 No. 6, p. 20."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b20","unstructured":"Goodlad, S. (1979), \u201cWhat is an academic discipline?\u201d, in Cox, R. (Ed.), Cooperation and Choice in Higher Education, University of London, London."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hara, N., Solomon, P., Kim, S. and Sonnenwald, D. (2003), \u201cAn emerging view of scientific collaboration: scientists' perspectives on collaboration and factors that impact collaboration\u201d, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Vol. 54 No. 10, pp. 952\u201065.","DOI":"10.1002\/asi.10291"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b22","unstructured":"Heckhausen, H. (1972), Interdisciplinarity: Problems of Teaching and Research in Universities, Organization for Economic Co\u2010operation and Development, Paris."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hj\u00f8rland, B. (2000), \u201cLibrary and information science: practice, theory and philosophical basis\u201d, Information Processing and Management, Vol. 36, pp. 501\u201031.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0306-4573(99)00038-2"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hj\u00f8rland, B. (2002), \u201cEpistemology and the socio\u2010cognitive perspective in information science\u201d, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Vol. 53 No. 4, pp. 257\u201070.","DOI":"10.1002\/asi.10042"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b25","unstructured":"Hj\u00f8rland, B. (2004), \u201cArguments for philosophical realism in library and information science\u201d, Library Trends, Vol. 52 No. 3, pp. 488\u2010506."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b26","unstructured":"Klein, J.T. (1990), Interdisciplinarity, Wayne State University Press, Detroit, MI."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b27","unstructured":"Klein, J.T. (1996), \u201cInterdisciplinary needs: the current context\u201d, Library Trends, Vol. 44 No. 2, pp. 134\u201055."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b28","unstructured":"Klein, J.T. and Newell, W. (1998), \u201cAdvancing interdisciplinary study\u201d, in Newell, W. (Ed.), Interdisciplinarity: Essays from the Literature, College Entrance Examination Board, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b29","unstructured":"Lepore, E. and Pylyshyn, Z. (Eds) (1999), What Is Cognitive Science?, Blackwell, Oxford."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Leshner, A.I. (2004), \u201cScience at the leading edge\u201d, Science, Vol. 303 No. 5659, p. 729.","DOI":"10.1126\/science.303.5659.729"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b31","unstructured":"Michaud, G. and Abt, C.C. (1972), Interdisciplinarity: Problems of Teaching and Research in Universities, Introduction, OECD, Paris."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b32","unstructured":"Miller, R. (1982), \u201cVarieties of interdisciplinary approaches in the social science\u201d, Issues in Integrative Studies, Vol. 1."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moran, J. (2002), Interdisciplinarity, Routledge, London.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203458563"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Newby, G. (2001), \u201cCognitive space and information space\u201d, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Vol. 52 No. 12, pp. 1026\u201048.","DOI":"10.1002\/asi.1172"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"O'Brien, G. and Opie, J. (1999), \u201cA connectionist theory of phenomenal experience\u201d, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Vol. 22, pp. 127\u201048.","DOI":"10.1017\/S0140525X9900179X"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oldnall, A. (1995), \u201cNursing as an emerging academic discipline\u201d, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol. 21, pp. 605\u201012.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2648.1995.tb02746.x"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b36","unstructured":"Piaget, J. (1972), \u201cThe epistemology of interdisciplinary relationships\u201d, Interdisciplinarity: Problems of Teaching and Research in Universities, OECD, Paris."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b37","unstructured":"Piszczalski, M. (2001), \u201cComplexities of collaboration\u201d, Automotive Manufacturing & Production; Cincinnati, Vol. 113 No. 7, p. 16."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b38","unstructured":"P\u00f6rksen, U. (1995), Plastic Words: The Tyranny of a Modular Language, Pennsylvania University Press, University Park, PA (trans. Mason, J. and Cayley, D.)."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b39","unstructured":"Port, R. and Van Gelder, T. (1995), Mind as Motion: Explorations in the Dynamics of Cognition, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Post, D. and Votta, L. (2005), \u201cComputational science demands a new paradigm\u201d, Physics Today, Vol. 58 No. 1, p. 35.","DOI":"10.1063\/1.1881898"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Power, M. (2003), Rethinking Development Geographies, Routledge, New York, NY.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203006184"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rogers, Y. (2004), \u201cNew theoretical approaches for HCI\u201d, Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, Vol. 38, pp. 87\u2010143.","DOI":"10.1002\/aris.1440380103"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b43","unstructured":"Rogers, Y., Scaife, M. and Rizzo, A. (2003), \u201cInterdisciplinarity: an emergent or engineered process?\u201d, CSRP Technical Report, Vol. 556, University of Sussex, Brighton."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Roos, V., Roos, V. and Lombard, A. (2003), \u201cInterdisciplinary collaboration: an ongoing community narrative\u201d, Journal of Community Psychology, Vol. 31 No. 5, p. 543.","DOI":"10.1002\/jcop.10061"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b45","unstructured":"Saracevic, T. and Dalbello, M. (2001), \u201cA survey of digital library education\u201c, paper presented at Libraries in the Digital Age, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik, 23\u201027 May."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b46","unstructured":"Stember, M. (1998), \u201cAdvancing the social sciences through interdisciplinary enterprise\u201d, in Newell, W. (Ed.), Interdisciplinarity: Essays from the Literature, College Entrance Examination Board, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b47","unstructured":"Swoboda, W. (1979), \u201cDisciplines and interdisciplinarity: a historical perspective\u201d, in Kockelmans, J. (Ed.), Interdisciplinarity and Higher Education, Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, PA."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Talja, S., Keso, H. and Pietilainen, T. (1999), \u201cThe production of \u2018context\u2019 in information seeking research: a metatheoretical view\u201d, Information Processing & Management, Vol. 35 No. 6, pp. 751\u201063.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0306-4573(99)00024-2"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Talja, S., Tuominen, K. and Savolainen, R. (2005), \u201c\u2018Isms\u2019 in information science: constructivism, collectivism and constructionism\u201d, Journal of Documentation, Vol. 61 No. 1, p. 79.","DOI":"10.1108\/00220410510578023"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b50","unstructured":"Tuominen, K., Talja, S. and Savolainen, R. (2002), \u201cDiscourse, cognition and reality: towards a social constructionist metatheory for library and information science\u201d, in Fidel, R., Bruce, H., Ingwersen, P. and Vakkari, P. (Eds), Emerging Frameworks and Methods: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science (CoLIS4), Libraries Unlimited, Seattle, WA, pp. 271\u201083."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b51","unstructured":"van den Besselaar, P. and Heimeriks, G. (2001), \u201cDisciplinary, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary concepts and indicators\u201d, in Wilson, C. and Davis, M. (Eds), Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Scientometrics and Infometrics, UNSW, Sydney, pp. 705\u201016."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Von Eckardt, B. (2001), \u201cMultidisciplinarity and cognitive science\u201d, Cognitive Science, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 453\u201070.","DOI":"10.1207\/s15516709cog2503_5"},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b53","unstructured":"Wilson, P. (1996), \u201cInterdisciplinary research and information overload\u201d, Library Trends, Vol. 44 No. 2, pp. 192\u2010204."},{"key":"key2022031119442496200_b54","unstructured":"Zhao, S. (1991), \u201cDisciplinary and intradisciplinary competition in sociology: integration through domain differentiation\u201d, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, p. 195."}],"container-title":["Journal of Documentation"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/00220410810844132\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/00220410810844132\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T23:37:52Z","timestamp":1753400272000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jd\/article\/64\/1\/7-23\/222062"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2008,1,18]]},"references-count":56,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2008,1,18]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/00220410810844132"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/00220410810844132","relation":{},"ISSN":["0022-0418"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"0022-0418"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2008,1,18]]}}}