Big Data, Little Data, No Data

Big Data, Little Data, No Data examines the evolving landscape of data practices in scholarship and research. Through case studies across multiple scientific domains, Borgman analyzes how researchers create, handle, and share their data. The book maps out key challenges in data management, from technical infrastructure to policy frameworks and credit attribution. Borgman draws on extensive fieldwork to document the daily realities of data practices in astronomy, biology, social sciences, and other fields. The work confronts questions about reproducibility, sustainability, and the future of scholarly communication. Borgman presents both opportunities and risks in the push toward open data and new forms of scientific collaboration. This comprehensive analysis reveals the gap between the promise of "big data" and the complex human and technical systems required to make data meaningful for research. The book serves as a foundation for understanding how data practices shape - and are shaped by - the evolution of modern scholarship.

Readers describe this book as a thorough academic examination of data practices in research settings. The detailed analysis appeals to information science scholars and librarians looking to understand data management challenges. Liked: - In-depth exploration of data sharing policies and practices - Clear explanations of complex infrastructure issues - Strong citations and research examples - Balanced perspective on open data movement Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Repetitive points across chapters - Limited practical guidance for implementing solutions - Focus on theory over actionable insights One reader noted it "reads like a dissertation rather than an accessible guide." Another mentioned it "helped frame data management discussions but didn't provide enough concrete recommendations." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.67/5 (15 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (13 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (2 ratings) Common among academic readers but rarely referenced by industry practitioners due to its scholarly approach.

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🔍 Christine Borgman was one of the first scholars to identify the challenges of data sharing across scientific disciplines, exploring this topic since the 1990s. 📚 The book draws from over two decades of research and interviews with scientists across various fields, from astronomy to social sciences. 🌐 The term "Little Data" in the title refers to the countless small-scale studies that are vital to science but often get overshadowed by Big Data initiatives. 🏫 Borgman developed many of the book's key concepts while serving as the Presidential Chair in Information Studies at UCLA, where she witnessed firsthand the evolution of digital scholarship. 📊 The book challenges the common assumption that all data can be shared and reused, demonstrating how some types of research data are so context-dependent that they become meaningless outside their original setting.