Running Head: IMPACT OF ICT ON SCHOLARLY SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION
Impact of ICT on Scholarly Scientific Communication
Institution Affiliation
Student’s Name
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IMPACT OF ICT ON SCIENTIFIC SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION
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Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology
Information and communication technologies have transformed the world in many ways;
yet, informal scholarly scientific communication forms a socio-technical interaction network in
which communication is influenced by technology but defined by the social structures of
scientists and their organizations (Kling, McKim, & King, 2003; Lamb, Sawyer, & Kling, 2000).
This review of informal scholarly scientific communication examines and evaluates what affects
the information and communication technologies on the existing structures.
Informal communication is important part of information seeking process in order to
identify the problem, or information encountered while formulating the research question,
conducting the research, evaluating the data, or documenting the research.
Traditional models of communicating scholarly scientific research emphasize on
individual production of knowledge with feedback from colleagues and subsequent exchange of
knowledge; furthermore, there is limited information at certain stages of the research project
(Glaser, 2003; Kraut et al., 1990).
The useful categories of ICT can be grouped as embedded, coordination, and
dissemination (Lamb and Davidson, 2005). Embedded ICTs are communication tools that are
built and used as scientific tools for experiments such as sensor networks, grid computing, and
observation devices. Coordination of ICTs involves use of e-mails, telephone services, web
pages and instant messaging. It generally constitutes all communication infrastructures that
allows for planning, sharing data and results, as well as maintaining contacts. Dissemination
ICTs involves such media as electronic journals, popular media, weblogs, and project web sites
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that transmit the findings to the audience, generally in one way broadcast communication (Lamb
& Davidson, 2005).
Adoption of an innovation is in scientific scholarly communication is in other words
exploiting the full potential of the dissemination and communication of the scientific
information. The adoption of ICT innovations in communicating scientific data depends on;
relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, and observability.
The possible outcomes on adoption and use of ICTs in scientific data gathering and
scientific data recording have increased productivity, decreased rate of error encounter, and
broader and more geographically dispersed collaborations. The efficiency of using ICT is that
scientists who use networks always spend less time in unproductive activities such as traveling to
equipment or labs or using the library to manually look up documents and data (Hesse et al.,
1993).
Social media is a driving force in the field of scientific communication and marketing and
is only getting larger. This phenomenon is changing the way marketing has been done in years
past. Instant feedback and connecting first hand with your audience are only two of the benefits.
This research will showcase a large corporation utilizing various social media platforms that
conserve as a model for future organizations. The social media has provided faster sharing of
information among scientists (Hesse et al., 1993).
The uses of embedded technology devices in data taking and data recording have greatly
reduced the level of human error such parallax error. The digital devices are more accurate than
analogue. The display devices such as large computer screens have increased resolution level of
micro organisms in scientific research especially in the field of medicine and research. The use
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of information and communication technology devices in data presentation such as power point
projector has improved understanding of experimental data to non scientist who may not
understand the scientific methods (Lamb and Davidson, 2005).
The use of high speed data relaying fiber optic cable enables faster transfer of data from
one part of the world to the other. This has aided the sharing of information among scientists
over the world and has aided continuation of research because new information about a particular
finding in research topic is shared. It also makes available, the necessary data for analysis and
discussion to determine to cause of action and make correct recommendations and conclusions.
The use of information and communication technology devices have revolutionized the
communication of scientific findings and sharing of the information. The use of YouTube and
organization’s websites has made scientific information available for access. This has created
awareness among many people who does not have to necessarily travel to the laboratories and
facilities to access the information (Lamb and Davidson, 2005).
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Reference
Hesse, B. W., Sproull, L. S., Kiesler, S. B., & Walsh, J. P. (1993). Returns to science computer
networks in oceanography. [Electronic version]. Communications of the ACM, 36(8), 90101.
Kling, R., McKim, G., & King, A. (2003). A bit more to it: Scholarly communication forums as
socio-technical interaction networks. [Electronic version].Journal of the American
Society for Information Science and Technology, 54(1), 47-67.
Kraut, R. E., Egido, C., & Galegher, J. (1990). Patterns of contact and communication in
scientific research collaboration. In J. Galegher, R. E. Kraut & C. Egido (Eds.),
Intellectual teamwork: Social and technological foundations of cooperative work (pp.
149-171). Hillsdale, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates.
Lamb, R., & Davidson, E. (2005). Information and communication technology challenges to
scientific professional identity. [Electronic version].Information Society, 21(1), 1-24.