Information Science: Science or Social Science?

Abstract

Collection, selection, processing, management, and dissemination of information are the main and ultimate role of Information Science and similar studies such as Information Studies, Information Management, Library Science, and Communication Science and so on. However, Information Science deals with some different characteristics than these subjects. Information Science is most interdisciplinary Science combines with so many knowledge clusters and domains. Information Science is a broad discipline more clearly; Domain of Domains. This is a combination of Science, Management, Technology, Engineering, Humanities and Social Science fields. Information Science extracts such special gradients which are related to Information and Technologies and helps in better Information Processing and Management. This paper talks about Information Science including its basic nature and characteristics. Paper also highlights the importance and value of Information Science and changing nature of Information Science due to the healthy interaction between Technologies and Engineering tools. The analysis concluded with how information science supports the development of both natural and philosophical sciences with the new age slogan ‘Information-Technology-People’ interaction.

Keywords: Information, Information Science, Informatics, Science, Social Science, Information Systems, Interdisciplinary Science, Computing, Information Technologies, Applied Science, Pure Science, Higher Education, IST