Free Essay On The Social Construction Of Technology

Social construction of technology and social shaping of technology are theories within the science and technical fields. For any advocates of social construction, technology does not have anything to do with the way human behaves. Rather, it is the behavior of people that helps in the evolution of technology. Moreover, social construction advocates believe that the ways a technology is utilized cannot be fully comprehended without exerting effort to become aware how a certain technology is engrained in the social framework. Pinch and Bijker are two of the most renowned social constructivists. On the other hand, social shaping of technology is a concept coined by William and edge. The authors believe that if technology does not come from the evolution of a predetermined logic, then invention is crooked. Diverse routes are accessible, and all lead to various technological results. Most importantly, the choices made will have varying effects on society and for social groups.
In a paper review by Williams and Edge, the authors emphasized how the shaping of technology evolved (865). Social shaping of technology play a crucial role in integrating the social and natural science issues; in providing awareness of the link between technological innovation, scientific excellence, and social and economic well-being; and in widening the policy agenda, for instance in the campaign as well as management of technological change (Williams and Edge 865). Pinch and Bijker (223) explored the study of technology and divided this into three different sections – innovation, history, and sociology.
The social shaping of technology emphasizes the concept of choices. According to Williams and Edge (866), choices are inherent in the design of systems and artifacts, as well as in the direction of innovation programs. On the other hand, Pinch and Bijker (224) introduced the concept of a black box. The authors claimed that the black box is a symbol of technology because its behavior and contents are regarded as common knowledge. The writers of social shaping technology are greatly concerned about liberating the field of technology and science by disassembling their privileging as inevitable. The group believes that technologies are fostered to alter or preserve social relations (Williams and Edge 867). Pinch and Bijker (225) suggest that the sociology of technology must be an explanandum or a type of phenomenon that requires serious explanation. Social shaping of technology is mainly concerned with exploring the different material outcome of diverse technical choices. However, social shaping of technology evaluates technological determinism that contends how technology shapes its path, notwithstanding the influences of people and the influences of society.
The social construction of technology remains questionable. And while there are difficulties and problems yet to settle, the success of technology can only be effectively dealt with by attempting to present that technology, including Science, can be best understood as being a social construct. Both social constructions of technology argue that people do not impact the evolution of technology, social shaping of technology believes that the technological choices are what shape the outcome of diverse materials.

Works Cited

Pinch, Trevor, and Wiebe Bijker. 'The Social Construction Of Facts And Artefacts: Or How The Sociology Of Science And The Sociology Of Technology Might Benefit Each Other'. Social Studies of Science 14.3 (1984): 399-441. Web.
Williams, Robin, and David Edge. 'The Social Shaping Of Technology'. Research Policy 25.6 (1996): 865-899. Web.