How is technology made? - That is the question!

W.E. Bijker

doi:10.1093/cje/bep068

How is technology made? - That is the question!

W.E. Bijker^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This article reviews constructivist technology studies, and especially the social construction of technology (SCOT). To investigate how these constructivist studies regard the ontology of technology, I will trace their historical development in units of analysis, methodological approaches and research questions. Constructivist technology studies are relativistic in only one sense: methodological. They are agnostic with respect to the ontology of technology. Constructivist studies of technology thus do not primarily answer the question 'what is technology?'; they trace the process 'how to make technology'.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	63-76
Number of pages	14
Journal	Cambridge Journal of Economics
Volume	34
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bep068
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2010

Keywords

ARTIFACTS
DEMOCRACY
IDENTITY
Idealism
O30
O31
O33
Ontology
Realism
Relativism
SCIENCE
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION
Social construction
Technological culture
Technological frame
Technology

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10.1093/cje/bep068

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title = "How is technology made? - That is the question!",

abstract = "This article reviews constructivist technology studies, and especially the social construction of technology (SCOT). To investigate how these constructivist studies regard the ontology of technology, I will trace their historical development in units of analysis, methodological approaches and research questions. Constructivist technology studies are relativistic in only one sense: methodological. They are agnostic with respect to the ontology of technology. Constructivist studies of technology thus do not primarily answer the question 'what is technology?'; they trace the process 'how to make technology'.",

keywords = "ARTIFACTS, DEMOCRACY, IDENTITY, Idealism, O30, O31, O33, Ontology, Realism, Relativism, SCIENCE, SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION, Social construction, Technological culture, Technological frame, Technology",

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AB - This article reviews constructivist technology studies, and especially the social construction of technology (SCOT). To investigate how these constructivist studies regard the ontology of technology, I will trace their historical development in units of analysis, methodological approaches and research questions. Constructivist technology studies are relativistic in only one sense: methodological. They are agnostic with respect to the ontology of technology. Constructivist studies of technology thus do not primarily answer the question 'what is technology?'; they trace the process 'how to make technology'.

KW - ARTIFACTS

KW - DEMOCRACY

KW - IDENTITY

KW - Idealism

KW - O30

KW - O31

KW - O33

KW - Ontology

KW - Realism

KW - Relativism

KW - SCIENCE

KW - SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION

KW - Social construction

KW - Technological culture

KW - Technological frame

KW - Technology

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DO - 10.1093/cje/bep068

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SN - 0309-166X

VL - 34

SP - 63

EP - 76

JO - Cambridge Journal of Economics

JF - Cambridge Journal of Economics

IS - 1

ER -

How is technology made? - That is the question!

Abstract

Keywords

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