Opinion paper. On theory development in information science

This paper attempts to evaluate two articles; one recently read to the ASIS Special Interest Group on Foundations of Information Science (SIG/FIS) by Heilprin, and the other published in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science by Artandi, which deal with the theoretical problems of defining “information” and/or “information science.” To that end, definitions, types, functions, forms of presentation and validation criteria of a theory are discussed with relation to science in general and to information science in particular. Arguments are made that: 1. information science is at present a practice‐oriented discipline, thus, good practice should be based on sound theory; 2. in the field of information more emphasis should be given to theory development; and 3. more precise and formal methods should be employed for presenting a theory so that it may be properly understood by practitioners and theoreticians.