Activity Theory

Activity theory is an approach to psychology based on Marx's dialectical materialism that was developed by revolutionary Russian psychologists Vygotsky, Leont'ev, and Luria in the 1920s and1930s. The focus of analysis is the activity undertaken by a person (subject) with a purpose (object)that is mediated by psychological tools (systems of numbers, language) and often performed in collaboration with others. An activity occurs in a cultural context that includes conventions, such as cultural rules, and forms of relationships, such as a division of labor.

Further Reading

Nardi, B.(1996) (Ed.). Context and consciousness: Activity theory and human-computer interaction. Cambridge: MIT Press.
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