Actor-Network Theory

Actor-network theory (ANT) is an approach originated in the field of the social study of science that aims to explain the interactive process though which forms of innovations emerge in society as networks composed of heterogeneous actors, objects, and representations. ANT emerged as a way to establish more sophisticated understandings of the interaction between social context, science, and material artifacts. Together with other technology approaches that have shaped social theory, it developed in contrast to more traditional perspectives to innovation, until then characterized by deterministic views and linear explanations. One of the main ANT assumptions is that social processes may be explained by considering not only actions of human social actors, but also the active role played by animals, objects, and even ideas, which are ...