Hybrids, materiality, and black boxes: Concepts of actor‐network theory in data journalism research

ABSTRACT Purpose: This article aims to understand the controversies present from the insertion of a disruptive technology in a new business model, Uber, in the urban mobility market of Belo Horizonte-MG. Originality/value: The actor-network theory allows us to describe innovation as technical and social, as well as to identify the sociomaterialities that enact and multiple realities from controversies in dispute. The proposal is original in investigating how a disruptive innovation is built as a “fact”, accompanying its stabilization processes. Design/methodology/approach: The research was operationalized from the actor-network theory itself, using cartography to follow the actors in their controversies. The data came mainly from newspapers, postings on social networks and legal materials accessed through the internet (from December 2014 to July 2017). For the presentation of the results, the mandala of actors who dispute positions in controversies and the hierarchical tree of the controversies were used. Findings: The arrangement was marked by several controversies that deal with the legitimacy of the application, the labor relations established by the innovation and the quality of the services provided, each supported by different actors, positions and arguments. Four types of technology identified in this arrangement were identified: 1. user technology; 2. service provision; 3. economic issues; and 4. Uber driver. It is understood, therefore, that the technology has multiple dimensions and is enacted of different forms, and that this arrangement has not yet stabilized.

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‘I Don’t Like Maths, That’s Why I am in Journalism’: Journalism Student Perceptions and Myths about Data Journalism

Asia Pacific Media Educator ◽

10.1177/1326365x18780418 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Amy Schmitz Weiss ◽

Jéssica Retis

Keyword(s):

Student Perceptions ◽

Network Theory ◽

Exploratory Study ◽

Actor Network Theory ◽

Subject Area ◽

Barriers To Entry ◽

Actor Network ◽

Potential Barriers ◽

Data Journalism ◽

Journalism Students

Journalism programs today face the need to train their students in the latest applications and tools - including data journalism techniques. Despite several classes and programs available in this subject area (Berret & Phillips, 2016), students are not actively enrolling in such classes. Using an epistemological approach and Actor-Network Theory (Latour, 2005), this exploratory study of US journalism students identifies some key perceptions that highlight potential barriers to entry for enrollment in such courses.

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A study using a graphical syntax for actor-network theory

Information Technology and People ◽

10.1108/itp-06-2013-0101 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 110-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Emile Silvis ◽

Patricia M. Alexander

Keyword(s):

Network Theory ◽

Health Information System ◽

Actor Network Theory ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Future Research ◽

Actor Network ◽

Content Type ◽

Black Boxes ◽

Computer Based ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose – Actor-network theory (ANT) is considered to be both a theoretical position and a methodology. ANT has been the centre of vigorous debates regarding its ontological viewpoint but has also been found to have some drawbacks as a methodology. The purpose of this paper is to use a graphical syntax for ANT to describe the development and implementation of a health information system (IS) in order to assess whether the graphical syntax improves the use of ANT as a methodology. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive example derived from a case study, describing the development and implementation of an electronic patients’ records system, is illustrated using this graphical syntax. This serves to makes the actors, translations and black boxes in the case visible. Findings – The syntax is found to help the researcher to conceptualise the research, to highlight assumptions as black boxes and to follow the actor but above all it encourages the researcher to understand the translations being made between actors and to make them explicit. Hence the syntax is found to assist at the analytical phases of a research project. The graphic syntax found to address the criticisms identified for ANT as an IS research methodology. Research limitations/implications – The proposed graphical syntax assists researchers who use ANT as a methodology. Use of the syntax in education is also foreseen to be practical. The evaluation of ANT-gs in the paper provides an argument for its use but a more reliable argument would be made by collating and analysing feedback from independent modellers who actually use the graphical syntax. This is an important part of future research. Practical implications – The visualisation of the actor-network provided by ANT-gs provides a relatively simple representation while at the same time it makes key ANT concepts explicit. This is expected to address the issue of superficial understanding of ANT and selective use of its constructs; it makes the actor-network boundaries immediately visible. Thus the paper proposes that ANT-gs will be useful both by IS researchers and as an educational tool but future research is required to verify both these practical implications. The development of a computer-based modelling tool based on this syntax is proposed to facilitate effective and efficient modelling. Originality/value – This paper proposes a unique tool to support ANT as a methodology. Its use encourages the researcher to focus on constructs that are essential elements of ANT and, by making each of the translation instances explicit, it strengthens the analysis in a way that is true to the view of ANT as a sociology of translation.

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Counter-Expertise

Epistemology & Philosophy of Science ◽

10.5840/eps202057220 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 48-57

Author(s):

Asya A. Filatova ◽

Keyword(s):

Network Theory ◽

Actor Network Theory ◽

Living Conditions ◽

Actor Network ◽

Black Boxes ◽

Grassroots Initiatives ◽

Scientific Facts ◽

The Way

The term “counter-expertise” has recently become a part of the STS theoretical tools, although main topics covered by this term have been the STS subjects for several decades. These themes concern the norms and practices of laypeople participation in assessing the quality of their living conditions. This assessing often clashes with official expertise. First of all, the problem of counterexpertise is considered in the context of the democratization of science, a participatory turn and activism. In this article, using the vocabulary of B. Latour's actor-network theory, I try to demonstrate the way counter-experts use, open and close the so-called “black boxes” of science. The counter-experts’ attitude about scientific facts is a matter of principle, for it actualizes the problem of demarcation of counter-expertise from various kinds of grassroots initiatives, which are usually interpreted as unscientific and socially destructive.

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STRUCTURING A SUCCESSFUL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROCESS: A CASE STUDY FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF ACTOR NETWORK THEORY

Journal of Information and Communication Technology ◽

10.32890/jict.9.2010.8097 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Huda Ibrahim ◽

Hasmiah Kasimin

Keyword(s):

Information Technology ◽

Technology Transfer ◽

Transfer Process ◽

Network Theory ◽

Actor Network Theory ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Local Market ◽

Private Company ◽

Actor Network ◽

Technology Transfer Process

An effi cient and effective information technology transfer from developed countries to Malaysia is an important issue as a prerequisite to support the ICT needs of the country to become not only a ICT user but also a ICT producer. One of the factors that infl uences successful information technology transfer is managing the process of how technology transfer occurs in one environment. It involves managing interaction between all parties concerned which requires an organized strategy and action toward accomplishing technology transfer objective in an integrated and effective mode. Using a conceptual framework based on the Actor Network Theory (ANT), this paper will analyse a successful information technology transfer process at a private company which is also a supplier of information technology (IT) products to the local market. This framework will explain how the company has come up with a successful technology transfer in a local environment. Our study shows that the company had given interest to its relationships with all the parties involved in the transfer process. The technology transfer programme and the strategy formulated take into account the characteristics of technology and all those involved.

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The Action of Christian Buildings on their Chinese Environment

Studies in World Christianity ◽

10.3366/swc.2017.0179 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 100-121

Author(s):

Michel Chambon

Keyword(s):

Network Theory ◽

Actor Network Theory ◽

Active Part ◽

Architectural Style ◽

Actor Network

This article explores the ways in which Christians are building churches in contemporary Nanping, China. At first glance, their architectural style appears simply neo-Gothic, but these buildings indeed enact a rich web of significances that acts upon local Christians and beyond. Building on Actor-Network Theory and exploring the multiple ties in which they are embedded, I argue that these buildings are agents acting in their own right, which take an active part in the process of making the presence of the Christian God tangible.

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Actor-Network Theory and Social Practice

Социологические исследования ◽

10.31857/s013216250009372-2 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 128-137

Author(s):

Irina Orlova ◽

Keyword(s):

Network Theory ◽

Social Practice ◽

Actor Network Theory ◽

Actor Network

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The model of an intelligent information security control system for supply chains based on the spatial concepts of the actor-network theory

Informatization and communication ◽

10.34219/2078-8320-2020-11-5-94-106 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 94-106

Author(s):

Y.M. Iskanderov ◽

◽

M.D. Pautov

Keyword(s):

Control System ◽

Information Security ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Network Theory ◽

Actor Network Theory ◽

Spatial Concepts ◽

Actor Network ◽

Information Security Management System ◽

Security Control ◽

Intelligent Information

Aim. The use of modern information technologies makes it possible to achieve a qualitatively new level of control in supply chains. In these conditions, ensuring information security is the most important task. The article shows the possibilities of applying the spatial concepts of the actor-network theory in the interests of forming a relevant intelligent information security management system for supply chains. Materials and methods. The article discusses a new approach based on the provisions of the actor-network theory, which makes it possible to form the structure of an intelligent information security control system for supply chains, consisting of three main functional blocks: technical, psychological and administrative. The incoming information security threats and the relevant system responses generated through the interaction of the system blocks were considered as enacting the three Law’s spaces: the space of regions, the space of networks and the space of fl uids. Results. It is shown that the stability of this system in the space of networks is a necessary condition for its successful functioning in the space of regions, and its resilience in the space of fl uids gained through the dynamic knowledge formation helps overcome the adverse effects of the fl uidity. The problems of the intentional / unintentional nature of information security threats, as well as the reactivity / proactivity of the corresponding responses of the intelligent information security management system for supply chains are investigated. Conclusions. The proposed approach showed the possibility of using such an interdisciplinary tool in the fi eld of information security as the concepts of the actor-network theory. The intelligent information security control system built on its basis ensures that almost all the features of solving information security problems in supply chains are taken into account.

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