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Madeleine Akrich

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Research

Akrich's work concerns the sociology of technology and has been influential in Science and technology studies (STS). She developed actor–network theory, a theoretical approach to social analysis, alongside Michel Callon, Bruno Latour, John Law, and others.

Akrich primarily studies users' relationships with various technologies, with a focus on technologies of obstetric medicine and, in recent collaboration with Cécile Méadel, online health discussion forums.

Script analysis is another STS methodology developed by Akrich. The term "script" is "a metaphor for the 'instruction manual' she claims is inscribed in an artifact. This is related to Don Norman's concept of affordances, but more comprehensive, and has been applied both in STS and adjacent disciplines such as design, internet research and management.

In 2016, Akrich received the CNRS Silver Medal.

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