SCIENCE AND PRACTICE - A CASE FOR MEDICAL INFORMATICS AS A LOCAL SCIENCE OF DESIGN

Because scientific research is guided by concerns for uncovering ''fun damental truths,'' its time frame differs from that of design, develop ment, and practice, which are driven by immediate needs for practical solutions. In medicine, however, as in other disciplines, basic scient ists, developers, and practitioners are being called on increasingly t o forge new alliances and work toward common goals. The authors propos e that medical informatics be construed as a local science of design. A local science seeks to explain aspects of a domain rather than deriv e a set of unifying principles. Design is concerned with the creation, implementation, and adaptation of artifacts in a range of settings. T he authors explore the implications of this point of view and endeavor to characterize the nature of informatics research, the relationship between theory and practice, and issues of scientific validity and gen eralizability. They argue for a more pluralistic approach to medical i nformatics in building a cumulative body of knowledge.