CITATION AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:
Cite as: Dervin, B. (2001, February). Clear-unclear? Accurate-inaccurate? Objective-subjective? Research-practice? Why polarities impede the research, practice, and design of information systems and how Sense-Making Methodology attempts to bridge the gaps. Lazerow lecture delivered at the School of Information Studies, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.
© Brenda Dervin and School of Information Studies, Florida State University (2001).

ABSTRACT:
This paper was delivered as the Lazerow lecture to the School of Information Studies at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, February 26, 2001. It is available on this site as a .pdf text file; however, the written paper is much abbreviated and speaks to the themes of the public lecture minus much of the detail. The focus of the presentation centered on one of the major themes that marks Dervin’s writing for some 30 years—how conceptualizations of information impedes its development and use. In this paper she discussed the idea of “innocent information” and how the idea permeates the pervasive polarities of our times. She traces how the idea of innocent information has become philosophically and practically untenable and how it impedes dialogue. She then proposes refocusing on information defined in terms of how it maps the nouns of the world to information as tool humans make and unmake. She concludes by suggesting that it is only by reconceptualizing information and what information practitioners are about that we can design truly responsive systems that put people at their centers.

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TO OBTAIN WEBCAST OF ORIGINAL LECTURE:
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If you wish to order the Webcast, please complete this form and use this full citation: (be sure to include your mailing address)
Dervin, B. (2001, February). Webcast of Lecture: Clear-unclear? Accurate-inaccurate? Objective-subjective? Research-practice? Why polarities impede the research, practice, and design of information systems and how Sense-Making Methodology attempts to bridge the gaps. Lazerow lecture delivered at the School of Information Studies, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.

OTHER MATERIALS BY THIS AUTHOR ON THIS WEB SITE:
See:  http://communication.sbs.ohio-state.edu/sense-making/AAauthors/authorlistdervin.html