In the article we will talk about scientific information. We will find out what it is like, what are the sources of its receipt and how it is collected and analyzed. And also get acquainted with the features of the search for scientific information.
What is this?
Let's start directly with the definition. In modern sources, there are quite a lot of various interpretations of the term information, which only partially reflect the general approach to interpretation. Consider the main interpretations.
So, information is certain information about the world around us and the processes that take place in it. They can be perceived by a person or special devices. Also, through information, various messages are received that inform a person about something. But at the same time, one must understand that scientific information is one of the main objects of study of many sciences. For example, information theory, cybernetics, semiotics, and the theory of mass communications deal with these issues. In computer science, the term "information" is most often used, which refers to some data about our world that needs to be properly stored, transformed, transmitted and used.
Types of scientific information
There are several basic types of information, which are classified according to the methods of its display, encryption or storage. Consider the main ones:
- Graphic - this is information that was originally transmitted in the form of some schemes on the rocks, and then transformed into canvases, drawings, photographs. This view implies that all data and information is displayed in a pictorial form.
- Sound is the information that is transmitted or stored using sound recording devices. Its separate type is musical information, which allows you to encode data using certain characters, which practically equates it in terms of efficiency with sound information and graphic information.
- Text, for which the coding method involving human speech is used. We operate with letters and various symbolic groups to reflect what we want to say. This type of information gained maximum development after the possibility of printing books was invented and paper appeared.
- Numerical is a modern kind of information that measures everything and presents it in the form of numbers. It reached its greatest peak during the heyday of trade relations, money and the economy. Just like for text data, special encoding methods are required here. The operating characters are digits.
- Video is a way of storing information that uses certain media. The peculiarity of the method is that it allows fixinglike living pictures.
Other species
There are also other species that mankind still cannot encode or store in a certain way. These include tactile information, which can only be transmitted through sensations, but which cannot be encoded and transmitted to someone else in its original form. There is also organoleptic information. It lies in the fact that we can convey certain messages with the help of smell and taste.
Also, light devices were used to transmit data over some distances. Light signals allowed the military to transmit critical data to other facilities. After the invention of electricity, signal transmission became possible through wires. This greatly facilitated communication. Later, radio waves were used.
Who stood at the origins?
In the scientific world, it is believed that the author of the theories about digital communication and information is Claude Shannon. Popularity and fame brought him a book that he wrote in 1948. It was called "Mathematical Theory of Connections". In his fundamental work, the scientist was one of the first to substantiate the theory that we can use a binary code in order to transmit information.
His thoughts were reinforced after the appearance of computers, because they were the means that allowed him to process numerical information. But much later, when computers became widespread and filled the whole world, they began to be used not only for processing, but also for preservation,movement, finding any type of data. At the same time, tapes, magnetic disks, laser disks, flash memory were initially used for safety. Naturally, these methods have gradually progressed, and today we almost do not use the listed media. They were replaced by capacious memory cards that can store terabytes of data.
Features of modern data
The information processing functions, which consist in the fact that it is reproduced, converted, transmitted and recorded, are assigned to the computer processor. We are touched on this issue because technology today is progressing in huge steps, and in order to trace the history of scientific information, one should turn to the origins. By the way, recently researchers came to the conclusion that it is necessary to separate information from the Web into a separate subspecies. Indeed, absolutely unimaginable volumes and capacities are used for its processing and movement.
Sources
Sources of scientific information are carriers that contain certain information. The main sources include dissertations, manuscripts, reports on any research work, design developments, translations, reviews and analytical materials. All of the above are documentary sources, which are divided into primary and secondary.
Primary documents include material containing basic information that directly conveys the essence of the results of scientific research. Secondary documents tell howthe information received by the researchers was analyzed, what logical connections were found, etc. Secondary documents perform only two functions. They allow you to quickly get data about any process or event, and also allow you to study the main theses in a compressed form.
Classification of sources
Main types of sources:
- A monograph is a book edition that contains a complete consideration of a certain process or phenomenon. Most often written by a team of authors.
- Abstract is a brochure that contains the main thoughts about the research. There is also a dissertation abstract, which is the thesis content of a dissertation written for a degree.
- A preprint is a work containing some data that has not yet been published but will soon be printed to the public.
- A Proceedings Collection is a collection that contains the main materials on research conducted on a particular topic.
- Materials on the conference of the meeting are non-periodic collections that contain the results of a particular scientific event.
- Abstract is a summary of the main information on a particular issue, which contains materials that have not yet been published.
- Popular science publications is a publication containing a number of experimental and theoretical questions presented in an accessible form for the average reader. An example of a collection of such worksis an electronic library ELibrary. Here everyone can find the answer to any question of interest, justified from a scientific point of view. The electronic library ELibrary allows anyone to plunge into the world of science and understand the main theses and ideas without going too deep.
Classification
Consider the various classifications that allow us to sort information. Note that typology is important when collecting scientific information, because without it, chaos will result.
So, distribution by purpose:
- Mass. This is information that contains ordinary, but important information for the population. She operates with simple language and simple concepts that are understood by most.
- Special. It lies in a specific set of data inaccessible to most people. But this information is intended for narrow circles of professionals.
- Secret. Huge centers work for storage and transmission of information. This data is transmitted only to a small number of people through completely secure channels. Special scientific centers ensure complete secrecy and inaccessibility of these data to the general population.
- Personal, or private, information is information about a particular person that is private.
Analysis
Analysis of scientific information occurs after all data has been collected and processed. After analysis, the information is classified according to the following criteria:
- Relevant. This isinformation that is most important in the present moment.
- Reliable. Information that is obtained by objective methods and does not contain a certain amount of distortion.
- Understood. This is information that is transmitted in a coding language that is understandable to the addressee.
- Full. This information, which is presented in its entirety, can be used to make serious global decisions.
- Useful. The degree of usefulness of certain data is determined by the specific subjects who receive it and use it for its intended purpose.
Also note that the processing of scientific information is impossible without its classification into false and true. So, at the stage of separating false data from true, a lot of additional research is being carried out. This is very important, because if you make a mistake, the final results of the research will be distorted.
Scientific and technical information
It consists of data that is used for scientific and technical purposes. In other words, it is necessary for the development of scientific and technological progress. Its importance in the world is enormous, since the shortage leads to the fact that many studies are duplicated. This suggests that scientists spend too much time to find those patterns and features that were previously explored and studied by other scientists. Note that the number of repeated experiments in some areas reaches 65%. In addition to being a waste of time, it is also a waste of billions of dollars every year.
In our countryInformation resources of science and technology are formed by the State Committee for Technology and Science, which was established in the 1960s. This system includes a huge number of special organizations and services that are actively functioning.
Processing
The processing of scientific information most often consists in reading the sources that we talked about above. Textbooks, monographs, scientific articles - all this allows us to find out the desired information. Therefore, it is very important to focus on the genre of the book and its content. Also, before studying, you should pay attention to the table of contents in order to familiarize yourself in detail and understand the structure of the book. This will allow you to understand the author and briefly consider the range of problems that he will explore.
Reading
When studying non-fiction, it is worth remembering that there are different types of reading, the choice of which depends on the initial goals of your research. List:
- Introductory reading, which is characterized by a cursory and partial acquaintance with the material and is necessary in order to focus on the main thoughts, ideas and postulates.
- Speed reading, which should be studied separately with a specialist, allows you to study all the material at once, but do it quite quickly, while comprehending each paragraph.
- Analytical reading most often used by scientists when studying important materials.
Subspecies
Analytical reading has several subtypes:
- Fixing. Itis that the entire text is studied, with special attention to references and footnotes.
- Explanatory. It lies in the fact that incomprehensible information is clarified with the help of reference books or consultants that allow you to understand all the difficult points.
- Critical. Its essence is that we do not just study the material, but try to analyze it, explore sources, compare our position and the thoughts of the author.
- Creative. It is based on the fact that as you read, you form your own view of the problem, trying to create an original approach to the issue.
Summarizing, we note that information can be very different. Study it carefully and contact research centers if necessary.
