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CCTP-781-01 Technology and Human Activity: Qualitative Methodologies
Spring only
*Fulfills Core Method Requirement
This course will focus on qualitative research approaches to the study
of use, design and consequences of technologies. Topics will include:
How to study technology and materiality? How do we research action,
conversation and discourse around technology? And how do we
qualitatively study large-scale technologies such as infrastructure?
Qualitative research, as defined in this course, will be based
primarily on ethnography, interviews and document analysis; however,
this will not be a hands-on methods course. Rather, our goal in this
course will be to learn how to use such approaches to generate
researchable objects. We will explore mundane everyday technologies
like the photocopier, and monumental technologies like the space
shuttle; 'hard technologies' such as automobiles and 'soft
technologies' such as software. To address these topics we will
closely read ‘canonical qualitative studies’ (primarily in grounded
theory, ethnomethodology and actor-network theory), and ask: how do
we study technology in action.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Course syllabi
The following syllabi may help you learn more about this course (login required):
Spring '10:
Ribes, D
(description, file download)
Additional syllabi may be available in prior academic years.
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Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:
More information
Look for this course in the schedule of classes.
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