What is interpretative flexibility?

What is interpretative flexibility?

Interpretive flexibility – the capacity of a specific technology to sustain divergent opinions – has long been recognized as playing an important role in explaining how technical artefacts are socially constructed.

What is the relationship between interpretive flexibility and closure in the context of technology?

At the basis is the concept of interpretative flexibility, meaning that technologies are open to more than one interpretation by different relevant social groups; the existence of social mechanisms that lead to a closure of the controversy at a second stage, and finally the relation of such closure mechanisms to ‘the …

What is Scot in STS?

Social construction of technology (also referred to as SCOT) is a theory within the field of Science and Technology Studies . Advocates of SCOT—that is, social constructivists —argue that technology does not determine human action, but that rather, human action shapes technology.

What is closure and stabilization?

Closure focuses on the “meaning attributed by different relevant social groups to an artifact” while stabilization focuses on the “development of the artifact itself within one relevant social group, in terms of the modalities used in its descriptions”.

What is social constructivism examples?

Social constructivism stresses the need for collaborative learning. Learning is promoted through collaboration among students, and between students and teachers. Some examples of collaborative learning activities are group problem solving, group inquiry, simulations, and debates.

What is an example of technological determinism?

Examples of Technological determinism The invention of the gun changed how disputes were sorted out and changed the face of combat. A gun required minimum effort and skill to be used successfully and could be used from a safe distance.

Which two theories from a social constructionist perspective are concerned with the how technologies are used in context rather than how they are designed?

Within this field of study, two theoretical approaches are often distinguished: the version of social constructivism referred to as SCOT and actor-network theory (ANT). Both theories seek to explain why and how particular technologies are adopted while others are rejected or never developed.

What is the social constructivist theory of learning?

According to the theory of social constructivism, social worlds develop out of individuals’ interactions with their culture and society. Social constructivism teaches that all knowledge develops as a result of social interaction and language use, and is therefore a shared, rather than an individual, experience.

What is a human construct?

construct, also called hypothetical construct or psychological construct, in psychology, a tool used to facilitate understanding of human behaviour. Likewise, the behavioral sciences use constructs such as conscientiousness, intelligence, political power, self-esteem, and group culture.

What is technological determinism theory?

Innovation. Social theory. Overview. Technological determinism (TD), simply put, is the idea that technology has important effects on our lives. This idea figures prominently in the popular imagination and political rhetoric, for example in the idea that the Internet is revolutionizing economy and society.

What is meant by social shaping?

1. The theory that technology is not neutral and is shaped by the dominant social, political and economic values of society. As a result therefore, changes in values lead to different technological outcomes, and as a result, social science considerations can be used to shape technologies.

What is Piaget’s theory of constructivism?

Piaget’s theory of constructivism argues that people produce knowledge and form meaning based upon their experiences. Piaget’s theory covered learning theories, teaching methods, and education reform. Assimilating causes an individual to incorporate new experiences into the old experiences.

What is interpretive flexibility?

What is Interpretive Flexibility. 1. The ability to modify the use of a technology’s use regardless of the prescribed design.

Do different forms of interpretative flexibility play a part in controversies?

We will show that in controversies or debates concerning the meaning of certain scientific facts, technological artefacts or research approaches, concurrently or consecutively more than one of these different forms of interpretative flexibility may play a part.

What is interpretative flexibility in social constructivism?

Interpretative flexibility is a central concept of social constructivism in science and technology studies. We think this concept, as it exists, can and should be elaborated.