A Conceptual Model for Scholarly Research Activity

Abstract

This paper presents a conceptual model for scholarly research
\nactivity, developed as part of the conceptual modelling work
\nwithin the ???Preparing DARIAH??? European e-Infrastructures
\nproject. It is inspired by cultural-historical activity theory,
\nand is expressed in terms of the CIDOC Conceptual Reference
\nModel, extending its notion of activity so as to also
\naccount, apart from historical practice, for scholarly research
\nplanning. It is intended as a framework for structuring and
\nanalyzing the results of empirical research on scholarly practice
\nand information requirements, encompassing the full
\nresearch lifecycle of information work and involving both
\nprimary evidence and scholarly objects; also, as a framework
\nfor producing clear and pertinent information requirements,
\nand specifications of digital infrastructures, tools and services
\nfor scholarly research. We plan to use the model to tag interview
\ntranscripts from an empirical study on scholarly information
\nwork, and thus validate its soundness and fitness for
\npurpose.