Susan Leigh Star

Bio: Susan Leigh Star is an academic researcher from University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. The author has contributed to research in topics: Information system & Boundary object. The author has an hindex of 40, co-authored 67 publications receiving 24291 citations. Previous affiliations of Susan Leigh Star include University of California, Irvine & Santa Clara University.

Vers une écologie de l’infrastructure. Conception et accès aux grands espaces d’information

Abstract: Nous analysons le developpement a grande echelle d’un logiciel specifique, le Worm Community System (WCS), systeme collaboratif concu pour une communaute de geneticiens disperses geographiquement. La creation de cet outil infrastructurel a rencontre des defis complexes, allant du simple manque de ressources aux echecs et compromis complexes en termes de communication intellectuelle et organisationnelle. Malgre des utilisateurs satisfaits du systeme et de son interface, et malgre l’ample evaluation et analyse des besoins des utilisateurs, de leurs avis et analyses, de nombreux utilisateurs avaient des difficultes a se connecter et a s’en servir. Cette etude a ete realisee a une periode ou Internet et ses programmes utilitaires connaissaient un developpement sans precedent (1991-1994) et ou beaucoup de participants se tournaient vers le World Wide Web pour leurs echanges d’informations. Avec le modele des niveaux d’apprentissage de Bateson, nous analysons les niveaux de complexite infrastructurelle impliques dans l’acces au systeme et dans la communication concepteur-utilisateur. Nous analysons la connexion entre le developpement de systemes destines a assister des formes specifiques de travail collaboratif au niveau de la connaissance, la transformation organisationnelle locale et les changements infrastructurels a grande echelle.

Vers une écologie de l'infrastructure

Abstract: Nous analysons le developpement a grande echelle d’un logiciel specifique, le Worm Community System (WCS), systeme collaboratif concu pour une communaute de geneticiens disperses geographiquement. La creation de cet outil infrastructurel a rencontre des defis complexes, allant du simple manque de ressources aux echecs et compromis complexes en termes de communication intellectuelle et organisationnelle. Malgre des utilisateurs satisfaits du systeme et de son interface, et malgre l’ample evaluation et analyse des besoins des utilisateurs, de leurs avis et analyses, de nombreux utilisateurs avaient des difficultes a se connecter et a s’en servir. Cette etude a ete realisee a une periode ou Internet et ses programmes utilitaires connaissaient un developpement sans precedent (1991-1994) et ou beaucoup de participants se tournaient vers le World Wide Web pour leurs echanges d’informations. Avec le modele des niveaux d’apprentissage de Bateson, nous analysons les niveaux de complexite infrastructurelle impliques dans l’acces au systeme et dans la communication concepteur - utilisateur. Nous analysons la connexion entre le developpement de systemes destines a assister des formes specifiques de travail collaboratif au niveau de la connaissance, la transformation organisationnelle locale et les changements infrastructurels a grande echelle.

“It's infrastructure all the way down” (keynote address)

Abstract: What is infrastructure and how shall we know it? As libraries move partly to desktops, one of the challenges facing the digital library community becomes designing for distributed use across many kinds of local circumstance. These circumstances vary widely in terms of people, resources, support, and technical configurations. Designing for this variety means reconceptualizing “user meets screen” as “user meets infrastructure.” This requires scaling up traditional design and evaluation methods, as well as a richer knowledge of the organizational and historical contexts of use. This talk addresses some of the methodological challenges involved in such work.Susan Leigh Star (Leigh) is Professor of Communication at the University of California, San Diego. She received her Ph.D in sociology of science and medicine from UC San Francisco. Before coming to UCSD in 1999, she was Professor of Information Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has also taught at UC Irvine and Keele University, in England, and several universities in Scandinavia as guest professor. Much of her research has been on the social implications and design of large-scale technology, especially information technology. Among her publications are "The Cultures of Computing" (ed) (Blackwell, 1995), "Regions of the Mind: Brain Research and the Quest for Scientific Certainty" (Stanford 1989), and (with Geoffrey Bowker), "Sorting Things Out: Classification and Its Consequences" (MIT, 1999). She is volume editor for Science and Technology for the Women's Studies International Encyclopedia (edited by Cheris Kramarae and Dale Spender), forthcoming from Routledge in 2000. Her current research concerns ethical and methodological dilemmas in on-line research with human subjects.

Qualitative analysis for social scientists

Abstract: The teaching of qualitative analysis in the social sciences is rarely undertaken in a structured way. This handbook is designed to remedy that and to present students and researchers with a systematic method for interpreting qualitative data', whether derived from interviews, field notes, or documentary materials. The special emphasis of the book is on how to develop theory through qualitative analysis. The reader is provided with the tools for doing qualitative analysis, such as codes, memos, memo sequences, theoretical sampling and comparative analysis, and diagrams, all of which are abundantly illustrated by actual examples drawn from the author's own varied qualitative research and research consultations, as well as from his research seminars. Many of the procedural discussions are concluded with rules of thumb that can usefully guide the researchers' analytic operations. The difficulties that beginners encounter when doing qualitative analysis and the kinds of persistent questions they raise are also discussed, as is the problem of how to integrate analyses. In addition, there is a chapter on the teaching of qualitative analysis and the giving of useful advice during research consultations, and there is a discussion of the preparation of material for publication. The book has been written not only for sociologists but for all researchers in the social sciences and in such fields as education, public health, nursing, and administration who employ qualitative methods in their work.

and Boundary Objects: Amateurs and Professionals in Berkeley's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 1907-39

Abstract: Scientific work is heterogeneous, requiring many different actors and viewpoints. It also requires cooperation. The two create tension between divergent viewpoints and the need for generalizable findings. We present a model of how one group of actors managed this tension. It draws on the work of amateurs, professionals, administrators and others connected to the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, during its early years. Extending the Latour-Callon model of interessement, two major activities are central for translating between viewpoints: standardization of methods, and the development of 'boundary objects'. Boundary objects are both adaptable to different viewpoints and robust enough to maintain identity across them. We distinguish four types of boundary objects: repositories, ideal types, coincident boundaries and standardized forms.

Institutional Ecology, `Translations' and Boundary Objects: Amateurs and Professionals in Berkeley's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 1907-39:

Abstract: Scientific work is heterogeneous, requiring many different actors and viewpoints. It also requires cooperation. The two create tension between divergent viewpoints and the need for generalizable findings. We present a model of how one group of actors managed this tension. It draws on the work of amateurs, professionals, administrators and others connected to the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, during its early years. Extending the Latour-Callon model of interessement, two major activities are central for translating between viewpoints: standardization of methods, and the development of `boundary objects'. Boundary objects are both adaptable to different viewpoints and robust enough to maintain identity across them. We distinguish four types of boundary objects: repositories, ideal types, coincident boundaries and standardized forms.

The archaeology of knowledge

Abstract: We may not be able to make you love reading, but archaeology of knowledge will lead you to love reading starting from now. Book is the window to open the new world. The world that you want is in the better stage and level. World will always guide you to even the prestige stage of the life. You know, this is some of how reading will give you the kindness. In this case, more books you read more knowledge you know, but it can mean also the bore is full.