Impact of e-infrastructure stimulus on the biodiversity science discipline: an empirical investigation

This research examined the phenomenon of e‐Infrastructure development and its impact on scientific discovery. Using an interpretive grounded theory research approach to study the Long‐Term Ecology Research (LTER) Network — a particular community of science in the biodiversity‐ecology discipline — we found that increases in scientific discovery as a result of significant investments in e‐Infrastructure development were at best mixed. Reframing our research objective to focus on scientific progress and using the IT Productivity Paradox variables to observe “scientific productivity,” we found results that appeared promising. Although the findings of this exploratory study were mixed, they raised awareness of potential research in several areas outlined previously in section 10.4. We hope that this study will provide a stimulus to future research of the phenomenon of e-Infrastructure and its impact on the different Aspects of a Science Discipline and scientific discovery.