Social Studies of Computing

Multidisciplinary Research Group at McGill University

What is the Social Studies of Computing?

The term refers to the use of theories and methods from the social sciences and humanities to understand computing/computer science as a human activity. Questions in this area include how CS is shaped by social forces, how the culture of CS affects the production of knowledge and technology, and how the boundaries of what is and is not CS are socially determined.

Common theories and methods for studying computing as a human activity include:

The Social Studies of Computing is a subfield of Science and Technology Studies (STS), which uses theories and methods from the social sciences and humanities to understand science and technology as human activities.

Understanding computing as a human practice is important for understanding how to effectively teach computing, policy decisions about computing education and work, how to organize computing work, understanding why some groups in society play larger or smaller roles in the field, and the relationship between CS and other academic fields.

Cognate fields

There are a few fields out there with similar names, which can be confusing to those new to the area:

What does Social Studies of Computing Research Look Like?

Some examples of work in the area include: