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.