Invisible colleges in African-American scholarship: The tripartite relationship of scholarly memberships, subject classifications and the habitus in interdisciplinary classification practices.

摘要

Since the 1960's, interdisciplinary classification practices among scholars engaged in African-American studies have remained understudied in Information Studies (IS). Such knowledge paucity in interdisciplinary classification practices prevents up-to-date design of programs and information technologies necessary in IS to provide quality information services to all scholars in the humanities and social sciences. An interdisciplinary research model was needed to successfully carry out needed research. Through literature review on genealogy with its focus on power, knowledge, and memberships, subject classifications and the habitus the researcher constructed an invisible college type interdisciplinary model. To collect survey data, the researcher employed social network analysis methodology with four snowballs. Also, the researcher conducted interviews and attended conference presentations in Black studies for additional data. The study's findings advance understanding in Information Studies about invisible colleges and interdisciplinary classification practices. Implications include incorporation of multivalent conceptions of classification in information technology and information literacy curriculum design.