Interrogative theory of information and knowledge

This report offers an interrogative-based approach to differentiating and quantifying information and knowledge within text. We examine the work of Popper, Shannon, Weaver, Brookes, and Debons on information and knowledge. We offer a new synthesis of their perspectives, which provides the theoretical background for Interrogative Theory. Interrogative Theory suggests that text is a heterogeneous mixture of data, information, and knowledge, which can be separated and quantified through the interrogatives. Several exploratory research efforts based on this interrogative paradigm have been undertaken, including a study of the effects of differentiated information and knowledge on problem solving. Data are presented from these studies. Applications of this approach are described including information system design, problem solving and decision making, text indexing, information overload, meta-data, and knowledge management.