Science, Technology and Society: An Introduction - Paperback

by Giampietro Gobo (Author), Valentina Marcheselli (Author)

Science, Technology and Society: An Introduction provides students with an accessible overview of the interdisciplinary field of Science and Technology Studies (STS). The discipline breaks down traditional conceptions of knowledge as universal, neutral and ahistorical, and takes a more critical approach to science and technology as social embedded phenomena. This comprehensive textbook makes use of unique examples and case studies to illustrate theoretical debates and concepts. In addition, the reader acquires a unique vision of contemporary issues (such as the power of algorithms, the mystification of fake news, the role of experts within the decision-making process, for example). Each chapter incorporates pedagogically rich features, including interactive discussion points to be used individually or in class as prompts for debate.

Back Jacket

Science, Technology and Society: An Introduction provides students with an accessible overview of the interdisciplinary field of Science and Technology Studies (STS). The discipline breaks down traditional conceptions of knowledge as universal, neutral and ahistorical, and takes a more critical approach to science and technology as social embedded phenomena. This comprehensive textbook makes use of unique examples and case studies to illustrate theoretical debates and concepts. In addition, the reader acquires a unique vision of contemporary issues (such as the power of algorithms, the mystification of fake news, the role of experts within the decision-making process, for example). Each chapter incorporates pedagogically rich features, including interactive discussion points to be used individually or in class as prompts for debate.

Author Biography

​Giampietro Gobo is Professor of Sociology of Science and Methodology of Social Research at the University of Milan, Italy, where his research focuses on scientific controversies of health issues, particularly on immunization policies. His books include Doing Ethnography (2008), Qualitative Research Practice (co-edited with C. Seale, J. F. Gubrium and D. Silverman, 2004), Constructing Survey Data: An Interactional Approach (with S. Mauceri, 2014), Merged Methods: A Rationale for Full Integration (with N. Fielding, G. La Rocca and W. van der Vaart, 2022).
Valentina Marcheselli is a post-doc research fellow at the Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento, Italy. Her research interests include the social construction of science and technology; the social dynamics of interaction and coordination in interdisciplinary contexts; cognition and embodiment in the fields of astrobiology and planetary science.