View
225
Download
2
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
Chapter 15
Science and Technology
Chapter Outline
The Global Context: The Technological Revolution
Sociological Theories of Science and Technology
Technology and the Transformation of Society
Chapter Outline
Societal Consequences of Science and Technology
Strategies for Action: Controlling Science and Technology
Understanding Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Science – The process of discovering, explaining,
and predicting natural or social phenomena.
Technology– The application of science and mechanics
to the solution of problems.
Question
Which of the following comes closest to your own view?
A. We should emphasize tradition more than high technology.
B. We should emphasize high technology more than tradition.
Levels of Technological Development
Mechanization - agricultural societies Automation - industrialized societies Cybernation - postindustrialized societies
Global Internet Use: April 2005
Average number of sessions per month 31
Average number of unique domains visited 62
Average pages viewed per month 1,151
Average pages viewed per session 37
Average time online per month 25 hrs, 48 min.
Average time of surfing session 50 minutes
Average duration of a page viewed 43 seconds
Average online population 295,495,299
Question
How likely is it that you would be willing to pursue an Internet romance?
A. Very likely
B. Somewhat likely
C. Unsure
D. Somewhat unlikely
E. Very unlikely
Postmodernism and the Technological Fix
Postmodernism is the view that rational thinking and science are limited in their ability to provide “truths.”
Many people think social problems can be resolved through a technological fix:.– A social engineer might approach water shortages
by persuading people to use less water.– A technologist would develop new technologies to
increase the water supply.
Structural-Functionalist Perspective
Science and technology emerge in response to societal needs.
Science fulfills the need for an assumed objective measure of truth.
If society changes too rapidly problems may emerge.
Conflict Perspective
Technological advances are motivated by profit.
Industry spends more money than government on research and development.
Funding of research is determined by dominant groups.
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Knowledge is relative, it changes over time and between societies.
Scientific “truths” are socially constructed and result from interactions between scientists, researchers, and the public.
Who becomes involved in what aspects of science and technology is socially defined.
Question
Science and technology furthers the interests of dominant groups to the detriment of others. This view is held by which theorists?
A. conflict theorists
B. structural functionalists
C. symbolic interactionists
D. strain theorists
Answer: A
Science and technology further the interests of dominant groups to the detriment of others. This view is held by conflict theorists.
Households with Computers and Internet Access by Age: 2003
Age Computer Internet Access
Under 25 years old 56.5 46.9
25 to 34 years old 68.6 60.2
35 to 44 years old 73.2 65.2
45 to 54 years old 71.9 65.1
55 years or older 46.6 40.8
Households with Computers and Internet Access by Sex: 2003
Sex Computer Internet Access
Male 65.6 58.6
Female 57.4 50.1
Households with Computers and Internet Access by Education: 2003
Education Computer Internet Access
Elementary 20.6 14
Some high school 32.7 24.3
High School Graduate/G.D.D.
51.1 43
Some college 70.6 62.4
BA degree or higher 83.3 78.3
Households with Computers and Internet Access by Income: 2003
Household Income Computer Internet Access
Under $5,000 35.6 26.8
$5,000 to $9,000 26.9 20
$10,000 to $14,000 31.7 23.7
$15,000 to $19,999 38.2 29.4
$20,000 to $24,999 46.1 36.7
$25,000 to $34,999 55.4 45.6
Households with Computers and Internet Access by Income: 2003
Household Income Computers Internet Access
$35,000 to $49,999 71.1 62.8
$50,000 to $74,999 81.9 76
$75,000 to $99,999 88.1 84.1
$100,000 to $149,000 92.9 90.4
$150,000 or more 94.7 92.4
The Internet
International information infrastructure (a network of networks) available through universities, research institutes, government agencies, and businesses.
E-commerce– Buying and selling goods and services
over the Internet.
Question
Of the friends and relatives you keep in contact with at least once a year: About how many do you stay in contact with by communicating through electronic mail?
A. None
B. 1-5
C. 6 and up
GSS National Data
EducationNo High School Degree
High School Degree
College Education
None 82.5% 64.1% 33.6%
1-5 10 19.6 24.6
6 and up 7.6 16.3 41.9
Online Activities: 15 years and up
Genetics
Molecular biology has led to a greater understanding of the genetic material found in all cells, DNA, and with it the ability for genetic screening.
Gene therapy involves identifying defective or missing genes to get a healthy duplicate and transplant it to the affected cell.
Genetic engineering is the ability to manipulate and alter the genes of an organism.
Reproductive Technologies
In-vitro fertilization - An egg and a sperm are united in a laboratory dish or test tube.
Abortion is the removal of an embryo or fetus from a woman’s uterus before it can survive on its own.– Intact dilation and extraction (D&X) abortions.
• Opponents refer to them as partial birth abortions because the limbs and the torso are delivered before the fetus has expired.
• Performed because the fetus has a serious defect, the woman’s health is jeopardized or both.
Support for Legal AbortionsSpecific Circumstances: 2003
Question
Do you support legal abortion if the women wants it for any reason?
A. Yes
B. No
GSS National Data
EducationNo High School Degree
High School Degree
College Education
Yes 27.9% 36.7% 50.2%
No 72.1 63.3 49.8
Therapeutic Cloning
Uses stem cells from human embryos. Stem cells can produce any type of cell in the human
body. Stem cells have been used for repairing spinal cord
injuries in mice, allowing them to walk normally. Because the use of stem cells can entail the
destruction of human embryos, many conservatives, including President Bush, are opposed to the practice.
The Stem Cell Issue, 2004: Which Is More Important?
Age
New Cures from Stem
Cell Research
Protecting Human
EmbryosDon’t Know
18-29 61 32 7
30-49 58 31 11
50-64 55 34 11
64 and older 50 32 18
The Stem Cell Issue, 2004: Which Is More Important?
Political Affiliation
New Cures from Stem
Cell Research
Protecting Human
EmbryosDon’t Know
Republican 45 45 10
Democrat 68 22 10
Independent 58 30 12
The Stem Cell Issue, 2004: Which Is More Important?
Self-described
New Cures from Stem Cell
Research
Protecting Human
Embryos
Don’t Know
Conservative 44 45 11
Moderate 61 27 12
Liberal 77 16 7
The Stem Cell Issue, 2004: Which Is More Important?
Religion
New Cures from Stem Cell
Research
Protecting Human
Embryos
Don’t Know
Protestants 52 38 10
White evangelical
33 58 9
White mainline 69 19 12
Black protestant 47 36 17
Catholic 63 28 9
Secular 70 16 14
Deskilling
Labor requires less thought than before and gives workers fewer decisions to make.
Upskilling– Reduces alienation as employees find their
work more rather than less meaningful, and have greater decision-making powers as information becomes less centralized.
Public Attitudes Toward Selected Technologies
Quick Quiz
1. Which level of technological development dominates agricultural societies?
A. mechanization
B. rationalization
C. cybernation
D. automation
Answer: A
Mechanization dominates agricultural societies?
2. The manipulation of the genes of an organism in such a way that the natural outcome is altered is called what?
A. gene therapy
B. gene splicing
C. genetic engineering
D. genetic screening
Answer: C
The manipulation of the genes of an organism in such a way that the natural outcome is altered is called genetic engineering.
3. The increasing removal of individuals from the production process and relegating them to boring, routine, and meaningless activities promotes:
A. higher morale.
B. deskilling.
C. a reduction in workplace activities.
D. improved quality of work.
Answer: B
The increasing removal of individuals from the production process and relegating them to boring, routine, and meaningless activities promotes deskilling.
Recommended