Science, Technology and Society
| Module title | Science, Technology and Society |
|---|---|
| Module code | SPA3013 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Angela Cassidy (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
This course will introduce you to a set of ideas that explore science and technology as social institutions and systems of knowledge production and will help you understand their multiple roles in wider society. We will investigate the processes by which knowledge is collectively produced by communities, and how this knowledge in turn remakes the world. Over the course of a term, we will encounter key concepts from the field of science and technology studies (STS), including objectivity, agency, knowledge, power, risk, responsible innovation, nature/culture, reflexivity, practices and intersectionality, and apply these ideas to reach a deeper understanding of contemporary scientific and technological debates.
This is module is suitable for non-specialist students and is recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.
Module aims - intentions of the module
To provide training in the essential analytical skills involved in research in the field of Science and Technology Studies. To help students examine the complex relationships between science and society and also provide insights into how knowledge is constructed, and technologies are shaped by society. The module will invite students to question the taken-for-granted status of contemporary science and technology and to explore the relations between human as well as human/nonhuman interaction that unfold the complexities of social processes. The major conceptual approaches will be critically evaluated while key social, cultural and political issues will be explored.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate in writing and orally a comprehension of the interaction between society, science, and technology, as well as the theories that explain this interaction.
- 2. Recognise the contributions of the social sciences to the analysis and wider development of science and technology.
- 3. Critically evaluate in writing and orally the diversity of specialised techniques and approaches involved in producing research in Science and Technology Studies.
- 4. Critically analyse the roles and perspectives of multiple actors and positions in debates and controversies about science and technology in society.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Analyse and synthesise a wide range of types of sources and evidence.
- 6. Identify, assess and compare the empirical usefulness of a range of theoretical approaches.
- 7. Demonstrate a depth of knowledge to present independent interpretations and support arguments with evidence.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Undertake independent study and research planning.
- 9. Build and defend a sound argument both in written form and orally.
- 10. Contribute productively and co-operatively to group discussions.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduction: core ideas for STS thinking
- Constructing knowledge through science(s) and technolog(ies)
- Ethnographies of science in the laboratory and beyond
- Objectivity, symmetry, reflexivity in knowledge-making
- Actor-Network Theory and nonhuman agencies
- Science, Technology, Publics and Democracy
- Experts and Expertise
- Technology and Responsibility
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | 11 x 2 hours per week comprising of lectures and seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 60 | Reading |
| Guided Independent Study | 68 | Assignment Preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formative case study planner | 1000 words | 1-10 | Oral, peer feedback, written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science and Technology Studies Case Study | 100 | 2500 words | 1-10 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science and Technology Studies Case Study (2500 words) | Science and Technology Studies Case Study (2500 words) | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Calvert, Jane (2024) A Place for Science and Technology Studies: Observation, Intervention, and Collaboration. The MIT Press.
- Sismondo, Sergio (2010), An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies (Oxford: Blackwell) 2nd Edition
- Bucchi, Massimiano (2002), Science in Society: An Introduction to Social Studies of Science (London: Routledge)
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 02/02/2024 |
| Last revision date | 11/03/2024 |
