About the Course

This course focuses on the relationship between information and information systems, technology, practices, and the social environment. We will examine information and information technology on several levels: individual, group, organizational, and societal. Key topic areas include: information production and use, social networks and information dissemination, and social problems associated with information. In addition to exposing students to current research and issues in information and information technology, one of the primary goals of this course is to help students learn to identify social problems. Thus, students will also be introduced to qualitative and quantitative social science research methodologies.

Location, Time and Instructor Information

Time: Tuesday and Thursdays, 12:30-2pm

Location: 202 South Hall

Instructor:

Coye Cheshire

Office: 305A South Hall

Office Hours: Tues and Thurs 2 - 3pm and by appointment

(510)643-6388

coye [at] ischool

Instructing Assistant:

Ashwin Mathew

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11 - 12am and by appointment, in the PhD room

ashwin [at] ischool

Course Design

This course is designed to be an introduction to the topics and issues associated with the study of information and information technology, from a social science perspective. As a result, this course will continuously introduce students to applied and practical problems, theoretical issues, as well as methods for answering different types of questions.

The following three questions will guide the material throughout the course: 1) Why do social scientists study information and information technology, 2) What are some of the key topics and issues that are studied, and 3) How do we study these issues? As we work our way through many different topics and problems in information, we will focus on various levels of analysis. This includes the micro (i.e., interpersonal relationships and information in small groups) to the macro level (i.e., organizational and institutional problems of information). By the end of the course, all students will be familiar with the social science approach to information and information technology, as well as many of the key problems and the methods used to solve these problems. This knowledge is essential to having a well-rounded understanding of information issues in professional environments.

Grading

Blog Responses (15%)

Blog responses can be on issues related to readings since the beginning of class (or since the last reading response paper for subsequent papers). Responses for a particular week must relate to the material being covered for that week. These can be many things, including (but not limited to): exploring the issues that are most interesting to you in some detail, relating the current readings to other material within or outside of this course, critiquing readings carefully, etc. As past students have consistently demonstrated, you get out what you put into these responses. With the authors’ permission, we may occasionally use response material in lectures. At least 8 blog responses are required. They must be posted at least by the end of the week in which the material they are responding to is covered, although they may be posted earlier in the week as well.

Participation/Discretionary (15%)

15% of your grade will come from participation and instructor discretion. Your class participation is a combination of your attendance and activity in the class.  Your participation in discussion sessions and the paper round table sessions will directly affect this part of your grade.

Assignments (30%)

There will be 3 assignments due over the course of the semester (times to appear on syllabus). These will draw from topics and issues in the course readings and lectures. In addition, some assignments may have aspects designed to help motivate your final paper.

Final Research Paper (40%)

The remaining 40% of the course grade will come from the final research paper (approximately 25-30 pages). Details about choosing topics for the final paper as well as specific requirements will be distributed during the semester. Unlike the other course writing assignments, the final paper will require you to use material outside of the class readings (though this can be in addition to relevant course readings).

Texts

1. Traweek, Sharon. (1988). Beamtimes and Lifetimes. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.
2. Course Reader: Available at Copy Central on Bancroft

Mailing List

School of Information students can join the mailing list through intranet mailing list options.

Non I school students should join by sending an e-mail to majordomo@ischool.berkeley.edu with the line “subscribe i203″ in the message body.

Site Access

I School students can access the course site using their I School login credentials. Non I School students should contact Ashwin to be granted access.

Library Proxy and Resources

Many of the course materials are linked off the syllabus. These are typically located on sites that require subscriptions to access the material. Subscriptions for all the linked material are provided by the campus library system. Follow the instructions here to get access: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Help/proxy.html . You can also use this access to search a wide range of academic material as you research your final papers.

A wide range of resources are available from the library for coursework and final papers. A useful starting point to getting a sense of these is the Information Studies Research Guide.