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METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS
In order to achieve the goals I have set for the theoretical aspect of
my thesis, a sound methodological approach is a central requirement
to be met. Also, as I claimed an approach using a clear theoretical
framework and a structured analysis to be missing in the discourse
about the zeppelin’s popularity. Hence the methodological approach
is of course an important one for my study to achieve its goals of
providing exactly that and thereby cotributing something previously
lacking.
5.1 methodology
The methodology for my study comes with the SCOT approach. It
is already introduced in the origins of SCOT from 1984 [40]. Bijker
provides a clearer account of the methodological approach to a SCOT
study in his piece »How is technology made? -That is the question!« from
2010 [3]. He describes a three-step process consisting of:
Step 1: analysis of the artifact to regarding its interpretative
flexibility and relevant social groups active in its
construction
Step 2: a description of the process of social construction
of the artifact
Step 3: an explanation how and why this construction
process worked with regards to technological frames of
relevant social groups
I would like to mostly stick with these steps. Giving more detailed
instructions, the methodology is described as followed:
»Key concepts in the first step are ‘relevant social group’
and ‘interpretative flexibility’. [. . . ] relevant social groups
can be identified by looking for actors who mention the
artefact in the same way. [. . . ] Because the description
of an artefact through the eyes of different relevant social
groups produces different descriptions—and thus different
artefacts—this results in the researcher’s demonstrating
the ‘interpretative flexibility’ of the artefact.« [3, 68]
This step Bijker describes is somewhat redundant, at least for I am
going to do. As my interest lies in the STI connected to the zeppelin,
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