The Sociology of Scientific Work: The Fundamental Relationship between Science and Society

by Dominique Vinck

Overview

More than ever before, science and technology play a significant role in modern society as evidenced by the development of nanotechnologies and the controversies surrounding GMOs and climate change. This book comprehensively explores the flourishing field of science and technology studies and examines its creation, development and interaction with contemporary society.

Dominique Vinck examines the various relationships between science and society including the emergence of sciences, the dynamics of innovation and technical democracy. He also investigates the principal social mechanisms of science and technology such as institutions, organizations, exchanges between researchers and the construction of scientific knowledge, expertise and innovation. The book provides a thorough overview of the field and reviews the major theoretical and methodological approaches as well as the current state of research on a range of topics.

This original book will strongly appeal to students and researchers in the social sciences including economics, the management of innovation, political science and the sociology of science. All those interested in the debate on the role of science and technology in society will also find this book to be of great interest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848449640
Publisher:	Edward Elgar Publishing
Publication date:	08/30/2010
Series:	PRIME Series on Research and Innovation Policy in Europe
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Dominique Vinck, Professor, STS Lab, Institut des Sciences Sociales, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Table of Contents

Contents: Introduction 1. Science and Society: A Complex Relationship 2. The Institution of Science 3. The Sciences as Collectives 4. The Sciences as an Organisation 5. Social Dynamics in the Sciences 6. Society’s Influence on Knowledge Content 7. Scientific Practices 8. The Laboratory in Society Conclusion Index

Editorial Reviews

'This work is a magesterial introduction to the sociology of science. With science being imbricated in the very tissue of our political lives - with climate change, energy policy, biodiversity conservation and so forth - it is increasingly important that the rich lessons of the field of science studies be brought to a wider readership. This book achieves that goal with great style: it is both highly accessible and rigorously researched.'
—Geoffrey C. Bowker, Santa Clara University, US

'[T]his book is a very detailed inventory of the different sociological works about science. The bibliography is thorough; it recalls forgotten, often uncited, and unjustly unappreciated authors. . . Social scientists will find in this book a substantial panorama of the sociological views on science. Their students will too. They will be able to deepen their social studies of science by using this as a bibliographic guide and consulting selections from the various works mentioned.'
—Geneviève Teil, Science and Public Policy

From the Publisher

‘This work is a magisterial introduction to the sociology of science. With science being imbricated in the very tissue of our political lives – with climate change, energy policy, biodiversity conservation and so forth – it is increasingly important that the rich lessons of the field of science studies be brought to a wider readership. This book achieves that goal with great style: it is both highly accessible and rigorously researched.’

Geoffrey C. Bowker

‘. . . this book is a very detailed inventory of the different sociological works about science. The bibliography is thorough; it recalls forgotten, often uncited, and unjustly unappreciated authors. . . Social scientists will find in this book a substantial panorama of the sociological views on science. Their students will too. They will be able to deepen their social studies of science by using this as a bibliographic guide and consulting selections from the various works mentioned.’

Geneviève Teil