The Social Construction of Technological Systems: New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology

by Wiebe E. Bijker, Thomas P. Hughes, Trevor J. Pinch (Editor)

The 13 essays in this book draw on a wide array of case studies from cooking stoves to missile systems, from 15th­century Portugal to today's AI labs - to outline an original research program based on a synthesis of ideas from the social studies of science and the history of technology.The impact of technology on society is clear and unmistakable. The influence of society on technology is more subtle. The 13 essays in this book draw on a wide array of case studies from cooking stoves to missile systems, from 15th­century Portugal to today's AI labs - to outline an original research program based on a synthesis of ideas from the social studies of science and the history of technology. Together they affirm the need for a study of technology that gives equal weight to technical, social, economic, and political questions.

Genres: Technology, History, Sociology, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Science, Reference

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Nate Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like "Does Technology Drive History?" this book is a compendium of essays. However, instead of exploring technological determinism, this book explores the opposite end of the spectrum: sociological constructivism. I found the essays in this book to be less accessible than Technology's, though that may just be because they necessarily take a more sociological approach to their analysis. Bottom line for social constructivists is that technology (and science, though there appears to be some consternation regarding the dividing line and whether there is one) is given meaning by social groups "and that problems - Hughes's reverse salient - are defined within the context of the meaning assigned by a social group or combination of social groups. Because social groups define the problems of technological development, there is a flexibility in the way things are designed, not one best way." (12)

Of all the essays, I like the first the most, which offered a theoretical approach, of sorts, to the relationship between the sociology of science and the sociology of technology using the development of the bicycle as case study. To oversimplify, they say that rather than looking at technological development as a linear undertaking, it is more accurate to describe it as a system of artifacts, social groups, problems, and solutions, all interacting and overlapping to advance a given technology in some way to meet some criteria. "Closure" is achieved with the "disappearance" of problems (though they note that the problems need not necessarily be solved so long as the relevant social groups see them as solved.

[Billy Marino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic text with a lot of really intriguing ideas that have since been critiqued, built upon, and critiqued some more. It is an essential building block for understanding how to discuss technology and its history.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic book in Sociology of Technology, and History of Technology, I was reading it as part of my phd research, as "compulsory reading". It was one of my favourite reads from the whole literature list over the years, and it also helps that the development of the safety bicycle was used as a case study. Since then, there are more developed and advanced theories in sociology of technology, which build on this first and groundbreaking material, but still, I like to go back to the source. If you are interested in innovation, engineering, the influence of society on technological development, this book is a great read.

[Shuhui Shen]

History and philosophy of technology have been ignored by historians for a long time. Has anybody ever thought about the issue of working time?

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding book that has completely flipped my way of thinking about historical developments of technology (and, by extension, media objects). I was familiar with the approaches put forward in the book through second-hand sources, but seeing their beginnings and formulations (not to mention how they are in dialogue with one another) is so much more helpful. I would really suggest that this be required reading for any sort of media history course; even though the case studies are dry and do not deal with what we traditionally consider media, they are still invaluable for anyone seriously interested in the sociological and historical development of media technologies.

It takes a while to get into the ways of thinking being discussed, but once you get it down it all sort of 'clicks.' I will say that the final section about AI aren't as useful as the preceding ones, but that is a minor quibble.

[Pinar G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a business background and honestly instead of a history book, I have found a primative business book when I finished reading this book. The networks and consumption theories that are written here are old.

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Very dry and at times geared towards someone with expertise in the field being discussed.