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<strong>LitNet</strong> Akademies Jaargang 9(2), Augustus 2012<br />
<strong>in</strong>telligence analysis programs are tested and discussed, while cheaper (and free) civilian<br />
versions are also used to describe the benefits of <strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g these for research purposes.<br />
Treverton et al. (2006:25) write, “If it is to stay relevant, <strong>in</strong>telligence needs to be like human<br />
vision – b<strong>in</strong>ocular, provid<strong>in</strong>g depth to what we can be seen <strong>in</strong> front; and peripheral, which<br />
provides warn<strong>in</strong>g.” The authors thus argue that <strong>in</strong>formation should be analysed deeper and<br />
wider with<strong>in</strong> a military <strong>in</strong>telligence context, but the same applies to academic research and<br />
the study of literature.<br />
Especially with<strong>in</strong> systems theory, attempts have been made to study literature <strong>in</strong> a broader<br />
capacity, which necessarily means that larger data sets have to be considered. With<strong>in</strong> this<br />
paradigm, <strong>in</strong>formation technology is particularly suitable, especially SNA and other forms of<br />
visualisation. Visualisation creates the opportunity to analyse large amounts of data at a<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gle glance, after which conclusions can be drawn and trends can be <strong>in</strong>vestigated <strong>in</strong> greater<br />
depth. It can expose features and patterns that can stimulate further research when questions<br />
are identified that were not even asked previously. Although visualisation is therefore based<br />
on quantitative methods, it also speeds up and facilitates qualitative research, as less time<br />
spent on identify<strong>in</strong>g trends translates <strong>in</strong>to more time bec<strong>om</strong><strong>in</strong>g available to analyse and<br />
expla<strong>in</strong> trends.<br />
This view is ak<strong>in</strong> to Pirolli and Card’s (1999) concept of the researcher/analyst as an<br />
"<strong>in</strong>formation predator": with<strong>in</strong> the current academic sett<strong>in</strong>g, where budgets and time bec<strong>om</strong>e<br />
more and more limited, greater output can be generated <strong>in</strong> a more cost-effective manner,<br />
provided that <strong>in</strong>formation technology is used across the entire research platform, over and<br />
above the ability of <strong>in</strong>formation technology to make a qualitative contribution to research.<br />
The article takes Senekal’s (2011) suggestions to fruition by us<strong>in</strong>g digital publications for<br />
new research. Ultimately the article argues for a full-spectrum <strong>in</strong>tegration of <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
technology <strong>in</strong> academic research activities, illustrat<strong>in</strong>g its potential with a few examples<br />
whereby trends with<strong>in</strong> the Afrikaans literary system are provisionally identified and<br />
represented visually. However, the article makes no literary claims <strong>in</strong> itself: it merely<br />
suggests avenues <strong>in</strong> which <strong>in</strong>formation technology could be employed to conduct research <strong>in</strong><br />
Afrikaans literature <strong>in</strong> the 21st century.<br />
Keywords: military <strong>in</strong>telligence; social network analysis; SNA; visualisation; data m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g;<br />
Afrikaans literary system; humanities research<br />
1. Inleid<strong>in</strong>g<br />
[T]here are known knowns; there are th<strong>in</strong>gs we know we know.<br />
We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are s<strong>om</strong>e<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs we do not know.<br />
But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.<br />
Hier<strong>die</strong> stell<strong>in</strong>g is <strong>in</strong> 2002 deur Donald Rumsfeld, destyds <strong>die</strong> Amerikaanse m<strong>in</strong>ister van<br />
verdedig<strong>in</strong>g, gemaak met verwys<strong>in</strong>g na sogenaamde massavernietig<strong>in</strong>gswapens <strong>in</strong> <strong>die</strong><br />
aanloop tot <strong>die</strong> <strong>in</strong>val van Irak. Alhoewel heelwat spot gedryf is met h<strong>om</strong> <strong>hier</strong>oor, het hy ’n<br />
bekende probleem rond<strong>om</strong> <strong>in</strong>ligt<strong>in</strong>g geformuleer, naamlik dat daar heelwat <strong>in</strong>ligt<strong>in</strong>g is<br />
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