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Toward Information Infrastructure Studies: Ways of Knowing in a Networked Environment

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International Handbook of Internet Research

Abstract

This article presents Information Infrastructure Studies, a research area that takes up some core issues in digital information and organization research. Infrastructure Studies simultaneously addresses the technical, social, and organizational aspects of the development, usage, and maintenance of infrastructures in local communities as well as global arenas. While infrastructure is understood as a broad category referring to a variety of pervasive, enabling network resources such as railroad lines, plumbing and pipes, electrical power plants and wires, this article focuses on information infrastructure, such as computational services and help desks, or federating activities such as scientific data repositories and archives spanning the multiple disciplines needed to address such issues as climate warming and the biodiversity crisis. These are elements associated with the internet and, frequently today, associated with cyberinfrastructure or e-science endeavors. We argue that a theoretical understanding of infrastructure provides the context for needed dialogue between design, use, and sustainability of internet-based infrastructure services. This article outlines a research area and outlines overarching themes of Infrastructure Studies. Part one of the paper presents definitions for infrastructure and cyberinfrastructure, reviewing salient previous work. Part two portrays key ideas from infrastructure studies (knowledge work, social and political values, new forms of sociality, etc.). In closing, the character of the field today is considered.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This reminds us that while social and organizational theory have made inroads into the technically dominated fields of information infrastructure design, maintaining such accomplishments will require continuous and active engagement by practicing social scientists in the field of cyberinfrastructure.

  2. 2.

    The claims of revolutionary change about our information infrastructure are somewhat akin to the millennialism of every generation since the industrial revolution. We are living the epoch of the database founded in the era of governmentality (late eighteenth century) – and all the claims that we see today about speed, time, and distribution have been with us since that epoch.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Information Sciences, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Geoffrey C. Bowker

  2. Integrative Oceanography Division, SIO University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

    Karen Baker

  3. Département de communication sociale et publique, Faculté de communication, Université du Québec à Montréal, Case postale 8888, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    Florence Millerand (Professeure)

  4. Communication, Culture and Technology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia

    David Ribes

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  1. Geoffrey C. Bowker
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  2. Karen Baker
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  3. Florence Millerand
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  4. David Ribes
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Correspondence to Geoffrey C. Bowker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Political Science, Virginia Tech, Major Williams Hall 531, Blacksburg, 24061, USA

    Jeremy Hunsinger

  2. Peachtree St. NE., 620, Atlanta, 30308, USA

    Lisbeth Klastrup

  3. Fac. Media, Society & Culture, Curtin University, Kent St., Bentley, 6102, Australia

    Matthew Allen

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Bowker, G.C., Baker, K., Millerand, F., Ribes, D. (2009). Toward Information Infrastructure Studies: Ways of Knowing in a Networked Environment. In: Hunsinger, J., Klastrup, L., Allen, M. (eds) International Handbook of Internet Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9789-8_5

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