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The Evolution of the Concept of Semantic Web in the Context of Wikipedia: An Exploratory Approach to Study the Collective Conceptualization in a Digital Collaborative Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Luís Miguel Machado

    (Department of Philosophy, Communication and Information, University of Coimbra, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Maria Manuel Borges

    (Department of Philosophy, Communication and Information, University of Coimbra, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Renato Rocha Souza

    (School of Applied Mathematics “EMAp”, Getúlio Vargas Foundation, Rio de Janeiro RJ 22250-900, Brazil)

Abstract

Wikipedia, as a “social machine”, is a privileged place to observe the collective construction of concepts without central control. Based on Dahlberg’s theory of concept, and anchored in the pragmatism of Hjørland—in which the concepts are socially negotiated meanings—the evolution of the concept of semantic web (SW) was analyzed in the English version of Wikipedia. An exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative study was designed and we identified 26 different definitions (between 12 July 2001 and 31 December 2017), of which eight are of particular relevance for their duration, with the latter being the two recorded at the end of the analyzed period. According to them, SW: “is an extension of the web” and “is a Web of Data”; the latter, used as a complementary definition, links to Berners-Lee’s publications. In Wikipedia, the evolution of the SW concept appears to be based on the search for the use of non-technical vocabulary and the control of authority carried out by the debate. As a space for collective bargaining of meanings, the Wikipedia study may bring relevant contributions to a community’s understanding of a particular concept and how it evolves over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Luís Miguel Machado & Maria Manuel Borges & Renato Rocha Souza, 2018. "The Evolution of the Concept of Semantic Web in the Context of Wikipedia: An Exploratory Approach to Study the Collective Conceptualization in a Digital Collaborative Environment," Publications, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jpubli:v:6:y:2018:i:4:p:44-:d:180596
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Wolfgang G. Stock, 2010. "Concepts and semantic relations in information science," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 61(10), pages 1951-1969, October.
    4. Jim Giles, 2005. "Internet encyclopaedias go head to head," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7070), pages 900-901, December.
    5. Dariusz Jemielniak & Eduard Aibar, 2016. "Bridging the gap between wikipedia and academia," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 67(7), pages 1773-1776, July.
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