Patterns of basic knowledge

Epistemetrics, a discipline concerning measuring knowledge qualitative and quantitatively, is an under developed area of research. A primary reason for the current status is a perceived lack of a formal structure of knowledge. In particular, a number of fundamental questions about knowledge remain to be answered: What is the basic unit of knowledge? How many types of knowledge are there? How do they relate to each other? And what are the hierarchies of knowledge? To address these questions, we proposed a knowledge categorization system, the EApc framework. The present work collects further evidence, from theories and practices of several diverse research disciplines, to argue for, to refine, and to expand the EApc framework. This framework can provide new perspectives in understanding scientific processes and in assessing values and impacts of research proposals and products. It may also shed light on the mechanisms of human cognition and information processing.