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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Three Perspectives in the Analysis of
Society and Culture (Sociology)
Symbolic Interactionism
Structural Functionalism
Conflict Analysis
The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Symbolic Structural
Conflict
Interactionist Functionalist
Society is made up of Society is made up of Society is made up of
individuals who interact interrelated conflicting groups with
with each other using systems/institutions unequal levels of
symbols with with corresponding power, wealth and
corresponding meanings functions prestige
Social Problems are Social Problems are Social Problems are
caused by different caused by a dysfunction caused by the
understanding of in one of the systems exploitation of the
symbols and their which affect all other inferior group by the
meanings systems dominant group
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Three Perspectives in the Analysis of
Society and Culture (Sociology)
Symbolic
Interactionist
Society is made up
of individuals who
interact with each
other using
symbols with
corresponding
meanings Symbols have meanings for people in
society based on their respective cultures.
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Three Perspectives in the Analysis of
Society and Culture (Sociology)
Structural Example: if the economy is in crisis, it
Functionalist affects the political institution, education
and all other social institutions. Just like
Society is made up
of interrelated a car engine, if there is one part that is
systems/ not functional, it cannot function as a
institutions with
corresponding whole.
functions
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Three Perspectives in the Analysis of
Society and Culture (Sociology)
Conflict
Analysis Example. it views poverty as a result of
exploitation of the lower class (workers) by
focuses on
unequal the powerful class (capitalists).
relationships
among groups or
categories of
people to explain
what is happening
in society.
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Linking Science, Technology and Society
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Source: [Link]
The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Specific views on the relationship between
S & T and Society
Technological Somnambulism
Technological Determinism
Social Construction of Technology
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Specific views on the relationship between
S & T and Society
denies the various ways by which
Technological Somnambulism technology provides structure
and meaning for human life.
explained by Langdon Winner, a political
scientist
HUMANS TECHNOLOGY
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Specific views on the relationship between
S & T and Society
Technological Technology is viewed as the main
Determinism determinant of a society’s history
and the driving force of its culture
was coined by Thorstein Veblen,
an American sociologist and
economist
TECHNOLOGY
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Specific views on the relationship between
S & T and Society
Technological Examples:
Determinism Agricultural tools has seen the gradual
was coined by Thorstein Veblen, loss of knowledge of traditional means of
an American sociologist and farming.
economist Guns changed how disputes were sorted
out and changed the face of combat.
Mobile phones changed the way people
communicate.
The discovery of nuclear energy, future
wars will be fought with nuclear arsenal.
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Specific views society on the relationship between
Specific views on the relationship between science and technology with
and culture
S & T and Society
Social Construction of
Technology emphasizes the importance of social
context in the development of new
arose as a contrasting view to technologies viewed as a product of
technological determinism introduced by social processes involving several
Wiebe Bijker and Trevor Pinch in 1984
social groups
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Specific views on the relationship between
S & T and Society
Social
Social Construction
Construction of
of Technology
Technology technological innovation is a
arose as a contrasting view to complex process wherein both
technological determinism introduced by technology and society negotiate
Wiebe Bijker and Trevor Pinch in 1984
the meaning of new technologies;
then make changes to technology
through resistance; and lastly
construct social and technological
frameworks, actions and practices.
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The Social Dimension of Science and Technology
Specific views on the relationship between
S & T and Society
Social Construction of Examples:
Social Construction of Technology
Technology Computerization of election was a
arose as a contrasting view to political demand by the society
technological determinism introduced by Development of more alternative
Wiebe Bijker and Trevor Pinch in 1984
sources of energy was a result of
society’s social value.
LRTs and MRTs and other mass
transport are solutions to traffic
problems.
.
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