Exam 3: Theoretical Perspectives on Technology

What is in place when technology is governed by a dominant group that uses it to reflect their values, social structures, and goals?

Discuss the key critiques of the affordances concept.

The opinion that social media is not an appropriate medium for ending a relationship is an example of social determinism.

What is the definition of an actant?

The view that technology is neutral tends to equate technological development with human progress.

What is meant by technology as a regressive force?

The substantivist position expresses the view that technology can act as an independent force.

What are the central dimensions that make-up the matrix of Feenberg's 1999 theoretical model depicting theories of technology and society?

Technological developments through industrialization and globalization have had in the long run negative effects on the environment such as pollution and decreased biodiversity. Which of the following terms describes this effect best?

Current understandings of technological society propose a process where technological factors impact society and in turn societal factors impact technological design, development, implementation, use, and social consequences. What is this process called?

What is the underlying assumption of autonomous technology theories?

Technology has been seen from many different perspectives. One such perspective is that of technology as neutral. Describe this point of view and discuss its limitations. Use an example to show how the limitations play out.

Social determinists believe that technology has a strong, unidirectional effect that is minimally mediated by other factors.

A risk when conducting research using the technological affordances theory is that scholars may confuse researcher-perceived affordances with user-perceived affordances.

Qualitative methods, such as case studies and ethnographies, are characteristic of science and technology studies (STS).

Social media platforms such as Facebook, help users stay connected. But addiction to social media is an increasing problem in users. This is an example of which of the following?

Science and Technology Studies (STS) reject deterministic approaches to the study of technology and instead call for: