Coproduction (social science)
Encyclopedia
The term co-production is used to explore the ways in which technical experts and other groups in society generate new knowledge and technologies together. More specifically, some use it to conceptualize the dynamic interaction between technology and society
It has a long history, particularly arising out of radical theories of knowledge in the 1960s. It forms part of Mode 2
, discussed by Michael Gibbons, Camille Limoges, Helga Nowotny, Simon Schwartzman, Peter Scott and Martin Trow in their 1994 book "The New Production of Knowledge: The dynamics of science and research in contemporary societies" (Sage) and by Science and technology studies
(S&TS) scholar Sheila Jasanoff
. For Jasanoff it signalled S&TS's move from extreme technological determinism
and social constructivism
to a more systemic understanding of how technology and society ‘co-produce’ each other. Co-production is functionally comparable to the concepts of causality loop
, positive feedback
, and co-evolution
– all of which describe how two or more variables of a system affect and essentially create each other, albeit with respect to different variables operating at different scales. And as with these other concepts, if used too broadly/uncritically, co-production risks noetic flatness – if technology and society co-produce each other equally, the justification for maintaining the boundary between them dissolves (in which case actor-network theory
may be invoked). Unless overlapping sets of boundary-work
are employed, co-production may also fail to account for power differentials within each variable (in this case, within technology and society).
Technology and society
Technology and society or technology and culture refers to cyclical co-dependence, co-influence, co-production of technology and society upon the other . This synergistic relationship occurred from the dawn of humankind, with the invention of simple tools and continues into modern technologies such...
It has a long history, particularly arising out of radical theories of knowledge in the 1960s. It forms part of Mode 2
Mode 2
Mode 2 is a concept that is often used to refer to a novel way of scientific knowledge production, , put forth in 1994 by Michael Gibbons, Camille Limoges, Helga Nowotny, Simon Schwartzman, Peter Scott and Martin Trow in their book The new production of knowledge: the dynamics of science and...
, discussed by Michael Gibbons, Camille Limoges, Helga Nowotny, Simon Schwartzman, Peter Scott and Martin Trow in their 1994 book "The New Production of Knowledge: The dynamics of science and research in contemporary societies" (Sage) and by Science and technology studies
Science and technology studies
Science, technology and society is the study of how social, political, and cultural values affect scientific research and technological innovation, and how these, in turn, affect society, politics and culture...
(S&TS) scholar Sheila Jasanoff
Sheila Jasanoff
Sheila Jasanoff is an American academic and significant contributor to the field of Science and Technology Studies.-Biography:She is Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she directs the Program on Science,...
. For Jasanoff it signalled S&TS's move from extreme technological determinism
Technological determinism
Technological determinism is a reductionist theory that presumes that a society's technology drives the development of its social structure and cultural values. The term is believed to have been coined by Thorstein Veblen , an American sociologist...
and social constructivism
Social constructivism
Social constructivism is a sociological theory of knowledge that applies the general philosophical constructionism into social settings, wherein groups construct knowledge for one another, collaboratively creating a small culture of shared artifacts with shared meanings...
to a more systemic understanding of how technology and society ‘co-produce’ each other. Co-production is functionally comparable to the concepts of causality loop
Causality loop
A causality loop can refer to the following:*A temporal causality loop, or predestination paradox, more commonly referred to as a causality loop, is a theoretical phenomenon, which is said to occur when a chain of cause-effect events is circular...
, positive feedback
Positive feedback
Positive feedback is a process in which the effects of a small disturbance on a system include an increase in the magnitude of the perturbation. That is, A produces more of B which in turn produces more of A. In contrast, a system that responds to a perturbation in a way that reduces its effect is...
, and co-evolution
Co-evolution
In biology, coevolution is "the change of a biological object triggered by the change of a related object." Coevolution can occur at many biological levels: it can be as microscopic as correlated mutations between amino acids in a protein, or as macroscopic as covarying traits between different...
– all of which describe how two or more variables of a system affect and essentially create each other, albeit with respect to different variables operating at different scales. And as with these other concepts, if used too broadly/uncritically, co-production risks noetic flatness – if technology and society co-produce each other equally, the justification for maintaining the boundary between them dissolves (in which case actor-network theory
Actor-network theory
Actor–network theory, often abbreviated as ANT, is a distinctive approach to social theory and research which originated in the field of science studies...
may be invoked). Unless overlapping sets of boundary-work
Boundary-work
In science studies, boundary-work comprises instances in which boundaries, demarcations, or other divisions between fields of knowledge are created, advocated, attacked, or reinforced...
are employed, co-production may also fail to account for power differentials within each variable (in this case, within technology and society).