A dialectical model of information retrieval : exploring a contradiction in terms

Abstract

ion.” (Hjorland, 2000a, p.506) “The goal for Library and Information Science is to write a history of its theoretical development abstracted from the concrete technologies in which its principles have been studied.” (ibid., p.512) This disjunction is also noted by Bonnevie (2001) who observes that theory in IS tends to remain at the meta level and is not actually implemented at a practical level. “The transition between micro and macro level in IS is a real schism, but also a challenge to IS theorists.” (Bonnevie, 2001, p.520) Thus there would appear to be a problem with how general theories relate to specific situations in IS. Hjorland is emphasising this from an explanatory point of view: how can a universal theory explain the diversity of contexts in IS? Bonnevie is emphasising it from an implementation perspective: how can philosophical theories be implemented in