The changing discourse of Technology in Society in the 21st century: Identifying themes, broader questions and exploring the role of technocratic ideology

摘要

What are the themes and broad questions within these themes that have arisen within the discourse represented by Technology in Society? Is there any connecting ideology or methodology that crosses all of these themes? This study revealed that there were broad questions and themes that emerged in the international journal, Technology in Society from 2004–2015. Some of these broader thematic questions included: • What are the significant issues to be raised and debated about technology's power to influence human and natural environments? • Regarding ethics and values, how will the public understand science and technology as it continues to evolve? A content analysis conducted over the last decade of the journal identified broad categories and themes of interest to scholars. A more in-depth look at these themes, applying a theoretical framework called “epistemic strategies”, was used to construct the broader questions within these themes. In addition, this framework highlighted that there was an underlying epistemological ideology that crossed the manuscripts published regardless of their theme. This epistomology is referred to in the philosophy of science domain as “technocratic” ideology and is important to highlight as it impacts decision-making and scholarly thinking. By identifying this trend in broader questions as well as this underlying ideology, this study provides insight into the promise and real constraints of the ongoing study of technology in society.