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 (10.00-16.00) | Day 2 (9.00-16.00) | Day 3 (9.00-14.00) |
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 present 1) what is the technology that you study and how do you understand technology? 2) what are your theoretical perspectives and challenges for investigating technology in action? 3) How do your methods support and challenge your research of technology in action?
As part of the course participants are kindly asked to do a short (10 min) presentation of the three elements presented in the submitted abstract. This will be done at the final day of the course where participants are expected to be able to reflect on the lectures and discussion made at the course and engage in dialogue with lecturers and course participants about their research project and theoretical and methodological challenges and opportunities.
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 (1988). Situated Knowledges. The Science Question in Feminism and the Priveledge of Partial Perspective. Feminist Studies. Vol. 14. No.3 575 – 599 (24 s)
- Schneider, Joseph (2005). Bodies, Knowledges, Politics, Ethics, and Truth: donna haraway. live theory. New York, continuum. P. 87-113
- 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. Read the Introduction (pp. 1-38) and chapter 3 (pp.
96-116). You are of course welcome to read the whole book
- 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.
Extra references mentioned in Stines Talk:
Højgaard, L & Søndergaard, DM 2010, Multimodale Konstitueringsprocesser i Empirisk Forskning. i S Brinkmann & L Tanggaard (red), Kvalitative Metoder: En Grundbog. Hans Reitzels Forlag, København, s. 315-339. (This texts discus how to study material agency)
Adrian, Stine Willum (2015): Psychological-IVF: conceptualizing emotional choreography in a fertility clinic. Distinktion: Journal of Social Theory. Published online Oct. 7. (It is in the folder with texts if you are interested in the methodological problems with emotions)
Organiser/s: Anne Marie Kanstrup (Dept. of Planning),
Lecturers:
ECTS : 3
Time: 2-4 June 2021
Place: Online
Deadline: 12 May 2021
Max. no. of participants: 20
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.
- Teacher: Stine W. Adrian
- Teacher: Anne Marie Kanstrup
- Teacher: Casper Knudsen