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Science and Practice

A Case for Medical Informatics as a Local Science of Design

Affiliations of the authors: McGill University, Montreal, PQ, Canada (VLP); University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California (DRK).

Correspondence and reprints: Vimla L. Patel, PhD, Cognitive Studies in Medicine, Center for Medical Education, McGill University, 1110 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, PQ, Canada H3A 1A3. e-mail: <patel{at}hebb.psych.mcgill.ca>.

Abstract Because scientific research is guided by concerns for uncovering "fundamental truths," its time frame differs from that of design, development, and practice, which are driven by immediate needs for practical solutions. In medicine, however, as in other disciplines, basic scientists, developers, and practitioners are being called on increasingly to forge new alliances and work toward common goals. The authors propose that medical informatics be construed as a local science of design. A local science seeks to explain aspects of a domain rather than derive a set of unifying principles. Design is concerned with the creation, implementation, and adaptation of artifacts in a range of settings. The 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 generalizability. They argue for a more pluralistic approach to medical informatics in building a cumulative body of knowledge.

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