Review article

SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL ACCIDENTS

Jasminka Lažnjak ; Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Zagreb

Abstract

The author uses social construction of technology theory to analyze technological accidents. Characteristic for this theoretical approach is a thesis on technology as s social and cultural construct, whose meaning is defined by a sociocultural situation of a group. There are three phases of the social construction of technology research program: 1. discovering the interpretative flexibility of artifact; 2. closing and stabilization of s technological solution; 3. embedment of a technological system in a broader social context.
Analyzing accidents within this model, the author shows that there exists an interpretative flexibility, i.e. that accidents are regular part of any technological system; they are the result of the system complexity, because of which multiple failures happen.

Keywords

technological accident; social construction of technology

Hrčak ID:

141394

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/141394

Publication date:

15.9.1995.

Article data in other languages: croatian german

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