[Sigia-l] IA research?

[Eric Scheid]

On 27/4/04 8:13 AM, "Listera" <listera at rcn.com> wrote:

> Again, I'm reacting to Peter's original assertion that without academic
> research IA wasn't going anywhere, which started this thread.

I read Peter's assertion as meaning the lack of research is an "indicator"
of stagnation, not proof.

Set aside research then, set aside journals, conferences, accreditation, and
many other peripheral indicators (some of more value than others ;-). How
are we to identify if IA is moving forward or not? Meta-question: does it
need to move forward, or can we get by on the basic tenets of the field just
like how plumbers have for the last decade/century? Personally, I think the
field is still very young, and forward momentum may wane at times but will
be there. 

Someone should chime in about now that we should be judged on the value of
the benefits which IA delivers, and fair enough too. In response though, can
that value be measured today, or do we need to undertake research to figure
out how?

e.