Social construction of technology

The social construction of technology (SCOT) is a theory within the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS) that argues that technology does not determine human action, but rather, human action shapes technology. It is a response to technological determinism and emphasizes the role of social processes in the development and use of technology.

Overview

The social construction of technology is a framework that suggests that technology is not an autonomous force that shapes society, but rather, it is shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political factors. This perspective is part of a broader movement in the sociology of technology that seeks to understand how social factors influence technological development and vice versa.

The SCOT approach was developed in the 1980s by scholars such as Trevor Pinch and Wiebe Bijker. They argued that technological artifacts are socially constructed and that the meanings and uses of technology are negotiated by various social groups. This negotiation process is known as "interpretive flexibility," which means that different groups can have different interpretations and uses for the same technology.

Key Concepts

Interpretive Flexibility: This concept refers to the idea that technological artifacts can be interpreted in different ways by different social groups. For example, a new communication device might be seen as a tool for business by one group, while another group might see it as a means for social interaction.

Relevant Social Groups: These are the groups of people who have a stake in the development and use of a particular technology. They can include engineers, users, policymakers, and other stakeholders who influence the design and implementation of technology.

Closure and Stabilization: This refers to the process by which a technology becomes stable and its design is fixed. This occurs when the relevant social groups reach a consensus on the technology's use and meaning.

Technological Frame: This is the shared cognitive frame that guides the actions and interpretations of the relevant social groups. It includes the goals, problems, and solutions that are associated with a particular technology.

Criticism

While the social construction of technology provides a valuable framework for understanding the role of social factors in technological development, it has been criticized for downplaying the material aspects of technology. Critics argue that SCOT focuses too much on social factors and neglects the ways in which the physical properties of technology can influence its development and use.

Applications

The SCOT framework has been applied to a wide range of technologies, from the development of the bicycle to the design of medical devices. It has been used to analyze how different social groups influence the design and implementation of technology and how these technologies, in turn, affect society.

Also see

• Technological determinism
• Actor-network theory
• Science and Technology Studies
• Sociology of technology
• Interpretive flexibility