[Sigia-l] IA research?

[Karl Fast]

> Don't you find it a bit disturbing that a 'profession' needs
> 'research' not because it's intrinsically needed/useful but because
> it's to be used for validation?

Not at all. Just because research can be useful for validating and
legitimizing a profession doesn't mean that research is without
intrinsic value for that profession.

Professions use many techniques to legitimize themselves.
Professional organizations are common. Conferences are another.
Publications are extremely important. So are formalized education,
training, and/or certification programs. Some professions may have
some special legal status and protections, like doctors, lawyers,
architects, and engineers. And then there is research.

All of these elements are useful for legimitizing a profession. But
that is only one aspect of how they are useful.

None of this means that IA needs a strong research program. However,
I personally believe that it would benefit greatly if it did. One
benefit would be how it could, along with other activities, help to
legitimize the profession, especially in the eyes of others. But
there are other benefits too as others have discussed.



--karl
http://www.livingskies.com/