Duff, Alistair

Duff (2000) describe three methodological approaches to the information society thesis:

• the information sector version, describing modern economies by the expansion of an information sector or workforce. Identify the contribution of knowledge production or information processing to gross national product, or in argue for a radical configuration of the workforce. It is the oldest and most influential.
• Machlup, Fritz. 1962. The Production and Distribution of Knowledge in the United States. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
  
• Porat, Marc Uri. 1977. The Information Economy. Vols. 1-9. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce, Office of Telecommunications.
  
• the information flows version, understood in terms of the information flowing across society as a whole, the total quantity of information flowing across all media in society.
• Umesao, Tadao. 1963. Joho Sangyo Ron (On Information Industries). Hoso Asahi, January, pp. 4-17.
  
• Masuda, Yoneji. 1968. Joho Shakai Nyumon (Introduction to an Information Society). Tokyo: Perikan Sha.
• the diffusion of information technology (IT) version, attributing to the spreading of IT the cause of major social and economic changes. There are too many publications in this approach, and no classic or authoritative work. Therefore, it lacks structure. Duff categorizes three main types of literature:
• Discussions of technological developments. Describe mainly technological advancements, or limited studies on their implications.
• Journalistic scholarship. Heavily speculative works describing the emergence of a new society. Although containing rich descriptions, lack methodological rigor. Includes Toffler here.
• Academic studies on the social impact of technology. Empirical descriptions of how technological development affects social life. Cites Simon Nora and Alain Minc (1978), and Ian Miles (1985 and others).

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