Study Guide: Science and Technology in Global Development

A set of flashcards to help understand core concepts in Science and Technology Studies (STS) as applied to global development.

What does the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) argue about technological development?

SCOT argues that the success or failure of technology is determined through social processes involving various groups, rather than being inherent to the technology itself.

What is Interpretive Flexibility in the context of SCOT?

Interpretive Flexibility is the principle that a technological artifact has different meanings and interpretations for various social groups; there is no single 'best way' to understand or design a technology.

What are Relevant Social Groups (RSGs) in SCOT?

Relevant Social Groups are institutions or groups of individuals that share a common interpretation and technological frame regarding a specific artifact.

What is a Technological Frame?

A Technological Frame is the set of meanings, problems, and solutions that an RSG associates with a technology, guiding how the group interacts with it.

Define Closure and Stabilization in SCOT.

Closure and Stabilization refer to the process where interpretive flexibility diminishes, consensus is reached on a dominant meaning of a technology, and its development becomes stabilized.

What are Closure Mechanisms in SCOT?

Closure Mechanisms are methods by which stabilization is achieved, including rhetorical closure and redefinition of the problem.

How did the Pandey et al. article apply SCOT to 2G Biofuel in India?

It analyzed how different social groups interpreted rice straw differently, highlighting the interpretive flexibility that prevented closure in 2G bioethanol policy.

What does the Politics of Technology theory argue?

It argues that technological artifacts embody specific forms of power and authority and are not neutral tools.

What is meant by Inherently Political Technologies?

Inherently Political Technologies are technologies that seem to require or favor particular kinds of political relationships due to their characteristics.

What is Actor-Network Theory (ANT)?

ANT is a framework that explains how social order and scientific/technical innovations are created from heterogeneous materials, focusing on the relationships within networks.

What does Problematisation refer to in ANT?

Problematisation is the phase where a focal actor defines a problem and positions themselves as an Obligatory Passage Point (OPP) for achieving solutions.

Explain 'Generalized Symmetry' in ANT methodology.

Generalized Symmetry is the principle that human and non-human elements are treated with the same analytical framework, rejecting distinctions between them.

What is a Data Double according to the glossary?

A Data Double is an abstract representation of a person or group created from digital data traces, used for monitoring and intervention.

What are Discourse Coalitions?

Discourse Coalitions are groups that, despite differing specific interests, share a common narrative or frame, creating a basis for joint action.

Define Frugal Innovation.

Frugal Innovation is the process of creating low-cost products or services by reducing complexity and focusing on essential functionalities in resource-constrained environments.

How do technological frames influence policy in SCOT?

Technological frames shape the interpretations and solutions associated with a technology, influencing how policies are formed and adopted.