Science And Technology In Society

* Examines the ways that science and technology are integral parts of, and are influenced by, the society in which they exist. * Shows how groups and organizations in power shape developments in technoscience, and how new developments affect people differently depending on class, race, gender and location. This thoughtful and engaging text challenges the widely held notion of science as somehow outside of society, and the idea that technology proceeds automatically down a single inevitable path. Through specific case studies involving contemporary debates, this book shows that science and technology are fundamentally part of society and are shaped by it. Drawing on concepts from political sociology, organizational analysis, and contemporary social theory, this book is a first-rate study of technoscience that places power, stratification, and discourse at its center. The author shows how actors (typically social groups or organizations) in powerful positions shape developments in technoscience in significant ways, and how new developments affect people differently depending on class, race, gender, and geographical location. Avoiding dense theoretical debate, this book is ideal for those interested in science and technology studies. This thoughtful and engaging text challenges the widely held notion of science as somehow outside of society, and the idea that technology proceeds automatically down a singular and inevitable path. Through specific case studies involving contemporary debates, this book shows that science and technology are fundamentally part of society and are shaped by it. Draws on concepts from political sociology, organizational analysis, and contemporary social theory. Avoids dense theoretical debate. Includes case studies and concluding chapter summaries for students and scholars.

Pages: 154, Edition: 1 armband, Paperback, Wiley-Blackwell