There is growing acknowledgement that a knowledge economy is more than just an information and technology rich economic system. In fact, a knowledge economy is grounded in a more holistic and balanced view of a knowledge society and measured in terms of knowledge transactions. It is important for knowledge scientists to remember that economics is a value-based science. Recent research suggests that knowledge transactions flourish where common values and trust are in place. This poster will explore the role that common values of respect for the environment and for spirituality and belief systems play in encouraging knowledge transactions. The poster also considers how we might measure and track these factors – growing movement of ecotheology and a diverse religious community – in a revised knowledge economic index model.

Recent research into knowledge economy indices and intellectual capital suggests that knowledge cities are the key level of aggregation for constructing and sustaining a knowledge society. In Dr. Bedford’s teaching and research she identified five systems that make up a healthy knowledge city, including: (1) economic system; (2) societal regime; (3) civic context; (4) human development system; and (5) environment context. In the center of this model we see knowledge transactions – the production and consumption of knowledge, the exchange of ideas and knowledge, the building of understanding and learning. Knowledge transactions are – at base – economic transactions. However, we must remember that economics is a value-based science. Research suggests that trust, ethics, morals, belief systems and spirituality are values that influence knowledge transactions. The research questions posed in this exploratory research ask (1) how do these factors encourage knowledge transactions? (2) how do they align with the five systems? And (3) what indicators might we include in that knowledge economic index model to represent religion, belief systems and spirituality? Particular emphasis is given to the role of the ecotheology movement in creating knowledge cities (i.e., contributing to the Environment Context), the role that a rich and diverse religious environment plays in support strong community trust and relationships (i.e., the Societal Regime), and the impact of these factors on the intellectual capital of individuals (i.e., Human Development) . This research is exploratory. It aims to synthesize and represent what is known in these areas, to highlight gaps in understanding, and expose potential areas of research.

We expect the exploratory results will contribute new indicators to the Knowledge Economy Index which will be applied to the state of Ohio in 2014. In addition, we expect that the exploratory research will lead to new publications and presentations on the role of these factors in the knowledge sciences discipline. To date, there is little treatment of spirituality, religion or belief systems in that discipline. Our work with CSIR over the past three years has broken new ground and helped to move the focus of knowledge sciences beyond public and private sector organizations into the voluntary and societal regime. We believe this exploratory research will establish one further connection – to the growing movement of ecotheology.

Is email an effective way for leaders of small discussion groups to communicate with members of those groups? Does it help members to be aware of the topics of the weekly discussions? Is it a good tool to encourage them to prepare for the weekly discussions? In this poster presentation, the presenter shares his study of a weekly small discussion group that he leads to answers these questions.

Risqué or sanctioned, ordained or not ordained by God – romance and sex are powerful ideas in the eyes of many Christian groups across North America. Each Christian sect maintains their own stance on how these human connections should take form. In the digital age, the process of informing laypeople of these values is complex and dynamic. This poster presents the research design for a study of the dissemination of information during attempts of Christian institutions to educate congregants on issues of dating, romantic relationships, and sex. The anticipated results from the study will include: the types of resources produced, the forms that they take, successes and failures of these attempts, and strategies for future improvements.

This study design is informed by several research questions: What information practices do Christians use to educate laypeople about dating, romantic relationships and sex? Are institutions still advocating print resources and Sunday school lectures? Or do they take advantage of the digital landscape, adapting social media, blogs, databases, or other tools into their practices? This research project aims to get a sense of what information tools are popular and successful among Christian groups when disseminating this very critical, and often politicized, information. Survey questions will be distributed to clergy members and laypeople in at least two different Christian congregations in the Memphis area. The congregations will be chosen based on their differences in doctrine and values from other chosen groups – a comparison study of two or more very different groups will ultimately speak to the wide variety of information resources available to Christians across all sects. The surveys will address key concerns about the resources these churches produce and disseminate regarding dating, relationships, and sex: types or forms of resources, number of resources, accessibility, ease of use, scope, currency, and interactivity. Follow-up interviews with clergy members will further illuminate decisions taken to create and distribute these information resources.

It is anticipated that results from this study will provide evidence of an increased role of digital resources in disseminating information to congregant users. From church websites to blogs to social media websites, Christian groups are utilizing the digital landscape to project their ideas to the largest possible audience, targeting even beyond their current congregants to possible converts and new members. The topics of dating, romantic relationships, and sex within Christian environments are often geared particularly towards adolescents and young adults. Therefore, to compete with the marketplace of ideas and philosophies available to the millennial generation, churches are taking advantage of the digital landscape to disseminate their message in new and innovative ways.

Literature addressing this area remains largely absent, particularly within scholarship interested in intersecting information studies and religion. Also, much existing scholarship seems to focus largely on information seeking behaviors of clergy members, rather than examining the behaviors and relationships of both clergy and laypeople within the larger framework of the communication chain. This research study attempts to close these gaps. Moreover, this project contributes to the Center for the Study of Information and Religion by touching on several key topics, such as: the use of social media to minister to youth, the information behaviors of clergy members, the dissemination of information by clergy members, the use of information technology to convey ideas and to provide services for congregants, and the uses of information by congregation members.