PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

This chapter analyzes the theoretical implications of research methods in the digital humanities (DH) and discusses the transformation of the humanities and their traditional scientific cultures through the influence of DH. From a scientific theory perspective, the article addresses current discussions, emerging trends, and existing challenges in the digital humanities and offers methodological approaches for interdisciplinary theory formation and iterative research approaches. The chapter assesses the current state of digital and data humanities, a field caught between the specialization of its subdisciplines, and the need for shared theories, vocabularies, and research practices. It asks which new digital humanities theories and foundations are emerging and should be taught. To this end, the chapter outlines four scientifictheoretical discourses in the digital humanities and puts the key issues within these into perspective. The implementation of data and methodology critique in DH theory, iterative approaches, the importance of subject expertise for the validation of results from quantitative studies, and the development of a common frame of reference are all considered prerequisites for a successful transformation of the (digital) humanities.