Distributed ontology building as practical work
Randall, Dave and Proctor, Rob and Lin, Yuwei and Poschen, Meik and Sharrock, Wes and Stevens, Robert (2011) Distributed ontology building as practical work. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 69 (4). pp. 220-233. ISSN 1071-5819
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This peer-reviewed paper draws upon the research of a cross-disciplinary, collaborative e-Science project, consisting of sociologists, biologists, medical informatics experts, computer scientists and software engineers.
The project explored how ontologies – in the sense of structured and logically related knowledge or classification hierarchies embedded in a computer system – are envisioned, designed, developed and implemented. Many scientists regard ontologies as having enormous promise for the consistent use and re-use of data. In this paper, based on ethnographic observation, we argue that the challenges for ontology building are 'social' as much as they are technical. By this we mean the routine work undertaken in the building process, and the problems and difficulties entailed, can be understood in terms of the practices of knowledge workers and the practical nature of ‘sorting things out’.
I have contributed my expertise in the sociology of science and technology and sociology of knowledge to many large-scale, multi-discipline e-Science projects that developed and capitalized on linked datasets and large-scale computing infrastructures. This output is an example of this line of study, which explores and questions the processes of developing networked data infrastructures that are considered as fundamental for the future of scientific research. My specific contribution to the project included data collection, data analysis, drafting part of the paper, and commenting on the manuscripts. The paper problematises the 'one size fits all' development model and highlights the need for design and development strategies that are able to engage with local needs, thereby ensuring that the technical infrastructure is properly aligned with the human infrastructure it is supposed to support.
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