It is common, in the so-called "hard" sciences, that recent bibliographic sources are privileged compared to sources dating back several years. This practice is consistent with the notion of the constant construction of scientific knowledge from the knowledge already acquired. An idea as coherent with the myth of the inevitable progress that we associate with Modernity.
In the case of the social and human sciences, however, I have the impression that this tendency to favour in bibliographies recent documents could be the blind application of rules borrowed from other disciplilnes. Sometimes one might even perceive what appears to be a form of methodolatry, preferring recent analyses and discussions on a theme to the detriment of what researchers have said a few decades ago. I often hear the comments "Yes, but this study dates from several years... " to deny the interest of qualitative research using individual or group interviews. I find it hard to believe that the humans of 30 years ago are so different from those who live in 2019. And that newer is always better.
I am looking for authors who have published about that. issue. Do you have any suggestions?
Dear Dr. Claude Giroux,
Thanks for your post.
On the very onset, I must confess that I am NOT an "active researcher'" in the sense that doing the research directly. Rather, as a Library professional, I was ( & still I am) associated with bibliographical supports to Researchers & practitioners in the fields of Health & Biomedical Sciences & Social & Behavioural Sciences for two decades in each domain. As such, my comments are principally based upon my experience on rendering services to the active researchers!!
Coming to the context of Bibliographic support, in the field of Scientific disciplines (specially for Applied Science disciplines) the relevancy of 'nascent' information is a prerequisite and there is hardly any questions about it. HOWEVER, the topic of research is the most important issue which demands the nature and types of Bibliographical references. For example, in 2010, One Public Health expert once approached me for some assistance regarding his/her article on HIV/AIDS. It was an article meant for Final Year Medical Students. In the bibliography, proposed for an article on history of HIV/AIDS, The Gallo-Montagnier argument on the issue of nomenclature of LAV/HTLVIII and all appeared in 'Epidemiological Review' of 1995 (A 15 year old article) among others. Interestingly, the 73% Medical students from different Medical Colleges requested for the full reference of the article and 67% requested for the full text article. There is a book named Presenting Science to the Public by Barbara Gastel published from the then ISI Press, Philadelphia in 1983, there you will find suggestions about necessities of references and their variations as per variations among the target groups. However, By and large, Research on Scientific disciplines (specially for applied Sciences) demands "latest/nascent references" albeit there exists considerable difference in between subjects like between Molecular Biology and Epidemiology/ Social Medicine & Community Health.
On the other hand, Social Science Research often dwells on old references as the narratives demands but at the same time certain perspectives like the cultural aspects and issues on modernity and demography, livelihood changes due to rapid industrialization and population increase coupled with Socio-Sconomic AND Socio-Political changes, the 'age' of bibliographical references and their relevance varies.
I hope I could explain and answer your query.
With Regards,
Siddhartha Shnakar Ray
Thanks Siddhartha Shnakar Ray,
your answer enriches my reflection on the question on the use of previous research on psycho-social issues. The idea that economic, political or technological changes may have changed the way people live their emotions, their interpersonal relationships remains a questionable assumption, however, in my opinion. The recent history of conflict and drama that floods the news suggests that human nature has evolved little in the last centuries, even though the way of expressing this humanity has taken on new forms.
I am pursuing my reflection, happy to be able to incorporate your interesting contribution.
There is also the “rule of tiredness”. The more tired someone is the more likely he or she is going to newer information assuming the newer researchers know more than those of the past.
Interesting reflection. It is true that we too often consider that researchers are disembodied brains driven solely by the search for knowledge. Thank you Dennis Mazur.
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