Bridging Digital and Humanistic Scholarship Through Conceptual Modelling

Why It Matters

This research highlights the critical need for designers and researchers to develop robust frameworks for translating complex humanistic knowledge into digital models. Understanding this interplay is crucial for creating tools and platforms that genuinely enhance scholarly inquiry and foster new forms of cultural literacy.

Key Finding

The study argues that Digital Humanities needs a common language for modelling that connects computational methods with the rich history of humanistic thought, potentially leading to new forms of cultural understanding.

Key Findings

• Digital Humanities modelling necessitates a language that bridges computational logic and humanistic interpretation.
• Historical traditions of model-based thinking offer valuable frameworks for contemporary DH practices.
• DH modelling has the potential to foster a new paradigm of cultural literacy.

Research Evidence

Aim: How can an effective language be developed to conceptualize and guide modelling in Digital Humanities?

Method: Conceptual analysis and interdisciplinary synthesis

Procedure: The research synthesizes historical perspectives on modelling from the humanities, cultural studies, and sciences with contemporary digital modelling practices in Digital Humanities. It explores various forms of digital, visual, and data models to establish a cohesive conceptual landscape for DH modelling.

Context: Digital Humanities research and scholarship

Design Principle

Develop modelling systems that are conceptually flexible and linguistically adaptable to accommodate diverse disciplinary knowledge.

How to Apply

When undertaking a design project involving digital tools for academic research, consider how the conceptual underpinnings of the subject matter can be translated into the design of the modelling or data representation features.

Limitations

The broad scope of 'Digital Humanities' may lead to generalizations, and the effectiveness of a 'new cultural literacy paradigm' requires empirical validation.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: To make digital tools for subjects like history or literature work well, we need to create a common language for how we build and understand digital models, drawing from both computer science and the humanities.

Why This Matters: Understanding how to translate complex ideas into digital models is key for creating effective and user-friendly digital tools for research and creative work.

Critical Thinking: To what extent can a single 'language' truly encompass the diverse modelling needs across all humanities disciplines, and what are the risks of oversimplification?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This research underscores the importance of developing a shared conceptual language for modelling in interdisciplinary fields like Digital Humanities. When designing digital tools for specialized domains, it is crucial to bridge the gap between computational logic and the nuanced understanding of humanistic scholarship, ensuring that the modelling process itself is conceptually robust and linguistically accessible to diverse users.

Project Tips

• Clearly define the scope of 'modelling' within your design project.
• Consider the existing conceptual frameworks used by your target users in their respective fields.

How to Use in IA

• Reference this study when discussing the conceptual challenges of translating domain-specific knowledge into digital formats for your design project.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an awareness of the conceptual challenges in bridging digital and humanistic domains when discussing your design choices.

Independent Variable: Conceptual frameworks for modelling

Dependent Variable: Effectiveness of modelling in Digital Humanities

Controlled Variables: Specific digital technologies used, disciplinary context of the humanities scholarship

Strengths

• Interdisciplinary approach
• Historical contextualization of modelling

Critical Questions

• How can the proposed 'effective language' be practically implemented and tested across different DH projects?
• What are the potential power dynamics or biases introduced by standardizing modelling languages in the humanities?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the historical evolution of modelling techniques within a specific humanities discipline and propose how these could inform the design of new digital modelling tools.

Source

Modelling Between Digital and Humanities · Open Book Publishers · 2023 · 10.11647/obp.0369