Topic:
This course is for PhD students who research technology in action, i.e. students that work with finding approaches for qualitative research of practices around technology and theories that can support their investigation of technology in practice. With an increase in interdisciplinary research of technological development and uses, theories and methods are needed that can work at the intersection between the technical and the human practice. At this course we will reflect on theoretical and methodological approaches for investigating technology in action.

Learning objectives:

  • identify methodological and theoretical dilemmas and challenges regarding research of technology in action
  • make qualified reflections regarding the unit of analysis for research of technology in action
  • choose theories and methods relevant for researching technology in action
  • present challenges and dilemmas in own Ph.D. project that regard research of technology in action

Teaching methods:

The course alternate between lectures and exercises. At the course students, together with lecturers, explore theory focused on understanding materiality. And students explore qualitative methods focused on researching technological practices including ethnographic and participatory methods.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Challenges thinking   with theory in research of technology in practice

Dilemmas using   methods in research of technology in practice

Presentations and   feedback

Examples and   dicsussions of socio-technical theory

Examples and   discussion of techo-anthropological methods

 

 

The participants are asked to submit a 2 page long abstract that describe their project, and state what theoretical and methodological challenges they encounter in their project in relation to studying, intervening or designing technologies through the use of qualitative methodologies

In preparation for the course participants are kindly asked to do a short (10 min) presentation of dilemmas and challenges in their PhD project regarding research of technology in action.

 As conclusion of the course, the participants will write 2-4 pages about theories and methods for researching technology in action in their PhD research. The ambition is that these pages can form the basis for the students’ further writing of research papers and thesis.

Key literature:
Michael Pryke, Gillian rose & Sarah Whatmore: “Using Social Theory – Thinking through Research”. Sage, 2003.

Goodeve, Thyrza N. (2000). Diffraction as Critical Consciousness, in How Like a Leaf. NY Routledge. P. 101-108

Haraway, Donna () Situated knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Priviledge of partial Perspective, in Haraway. Simians, Cyborgs and Women. The Reinvention of Nature. NY. Routledge. P149-182 

 Schneider, Joseph (2005). A Queer Familyof Companion Species: From Cyborgs to Dogs and Beyond. donna haraway. live theory. New York, continuum. P. 58-87

Susan Leigh Star: This is Not a Boundary Object: Reflections on the Origin of a Concept. Science, Technology & Human Values 35(5): 601-617.

Teun Suiderent-Jerak: “Situated Intervention: Sociological Experiments in Health Care”. MIT Press, 2015.

Joseph Dumit: “Writing the implosion: Teaching the World One Thing at a Time”. Cultural Anthropology 29(2): 344-362

Eva Brandt, Thomas Binder & Elizabeth Sanders: Tools and techniques – Ways to engage telling, making and enacting. In J. Simonsen & T. Robertson Routledge International Handbook of Participatory Design. Routledge, New York, 2013.

Anne Marie Kanstrup: “Living in the Lab: an analysis of the work in eight living laboratories set up in care homes for technology innovation. CoDesign 13(1): 49-64, 2017.

Organiser/s: Anne Marie Kanstrup (Dept. of Planning), Stine W. Adrian (Dept. of Learning)
Lecturer(s):

ECTS for students:
 3.0

Time:
 16-18 November 2020
Place: Place:  This PhD course will be conducted online - more information will follow

Deadline for registration:
 1 November 2020

Max. no. of participants: 
25

Important information concerning PhD courses: We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations