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Is (web) science ready for empowerment?

Published: 15 June 2011 Publication History

Abstract

The World Wide Web opens up many avenues for new research. Some of them (Web as observable phenomenon, Web as engineered technology) fall quite well within mainstream academic paradigms of research. However, this is much less so if we position the Web as a mechanism for empowerment related to social development. Informed by our W4RA field research experiences in West Africa, we review contextual as well as general issues of scientific research and scientific method if it is to be relevant to issues of empowerment.

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http://www.w4ra.org
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W4RA Field Trip Report, available from {3}, WP7, and associated resources, Jan. 2011, ftp://akmc.biz/ShareSpace/W4RA-VOICES/
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UNCTD 2007, "Science and technology for development: the new paradigm of ICT". Information Economy Report 2007--2008, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
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    cover image ACM Conferences
    WebSci '11: Proceedings of the 3rd International Web Science Conference
    June 2011
    483 pages
    ISBN:9781450308557
    DOI:10.1145/2527031
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    Published: 15 June 2011

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    Author Tags

    1. evolving technologies
    2. knowledge production
    3. the pro-human web
    4. web futures

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    WebSci '11: Web Science 2011
    June 15 - 17, 2011
    Koblenz, Germany

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    WebSci '11 Paper Acceptance Rate 34 of 203 submissions, 17%;
    Overall Acceptance Rate 245 of 933 submissions, 26%

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