Characteristics of social science information: A selective review of the literature. Part I

This paper presents a review of mainly English language literature on the scope of the social sciences as understood in various countries, on the linkings between social science disciplines, on the general characteristics of social science and of social science information, on the characteristics of the primary sources and of secondary information services, on the characteristics of the flow of information, and on the characteristics of the use of social science information by social science researchers as well as by social scientists in non-research environments and non-social scientists in need of social science information, especially in decision-making processes. As far as possible comparisons are made with information in science and the humanities.