Sociology and Social Studies of Science and Technology
Summary
The sociology and social studies of science and technology examine how scientific knowledge and technological innovations are produced, circulated and embedded within society. Originating in mid-twentieth-century work on the norms and institutions of science, the field has expanded to explore the social construction of scientific facts, the co-production of knowledge through collaborations between experts and publics, and the governance of emerging technologies. Key approaches include actor-network theory (which traces the associations of humans and artefacts), post-normal science (which foregrounds uncertainty and plural perspectives when stakes are high), and frameworks of responsible research and innovation (which seek to align technological trajectories with societal values). Empirical studies now encompass laboratory ethnographies, analyses of public controversies, and evaluations of participatory practices in policy-making. Global challenges such as climate change, health emergencies and digital transformation have further highlighted the importance of understanding how scientific advice is mobilised, how technological systems mediate power relations, and how diverse actors—including citizens, industry and regulatory agencies—shape and respond to innovation pathways. The field’s interdisciplinary nature draws on sociology, history, anthropology, science and technology studies, policy analysis and philosophy, offering critical insights for more inclusive, reflexive and democratically accountable science and technology governance.
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Sociology and Social Studies of Science and Technology publication trend
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Technical terms
Actor-network theory (ANT): A theoretical framework that treats human and non-human entities as equally important actants whose relationships constitute sociotechnical networks.
Actant: Any entity—animate or inanimate—that exercises influence and enters into negotiations within a network.
Black box: A stabilised assemblage of actors and processes whose internal complexity is taken for granted once its outputs are accepted.
Post-normal science: An approach to knowledge production adopted when facts are uncertain, values in dispute and decisions urgent, calling for extended peer communities.
Extended peer community: A broader group of stakeholders—beyond traditional experts—engaged in the assessment and deliberation of scientific and technological issues under conditions of high uncertainty.
References
- Using Actor–Network Theory to understand planning practice: Exploring relationships between actants in regulating low-carbon commercial development. Planning Theory (2012).
- Making pandemics big: On the situational performance of Covid-19 mathematical models. Social Science & Medicine (2022).
- Exploring the Organizational Proliferation of New Technologies: An Affective Actor-Network Theory. Organization Studies (2019).
- Introduction: How the Sociology of Science and Technology Addresses Science and Society Relations.
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