What Kind of Theory is Activity Theory?

Holzman, Lois

doi:10.1177/0959354306060105

Cited by 39 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…They are an explicit and novel framing device to understand impact evaluations as activities distributed over time. Development, for Vygotsky, contrasts with the “accepted scientific paradigm” in which a scientific method is understood as a tool to yield representational results (Holzman, : 112). Vygotsky saw scientific work not as separate methods and results, or isolated inputs and outputs, but as broader development and change over time in unfolding practice, which becomes “simultaneously prerequisite and product, the tool and the result” (Holzman, ; Vygotsky, : 65).…”

Section: Methodological Framework and Research Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Development, for Vygotsky, contrasts with the “accepted scientific paradigm” in which a scientific method is understood as a tool to yield representational results (Holzman, : 112). Vygotsky saw scientific work not as separate methods and results, or isolated inputs and outputs, but as broader development and change over time in unfolding practice, which becomes “simultaneously prerequisite and product, the tool and the result” (Holzman, ; Vygotsky, : 65). To understand evaluations in practice then (not as inputs/outputs nor methods/results), one can draw on Vygotsky and CHAT, to constitute evaluations as developing activity chains.…”

Section: Methodological Framework and Research Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An activity theory study of data, knowledge, and power in the design of an international development NGO impact evaluation

Kelly

2018

Information Systems Journal

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International development is now a data-, information-, and knowledge-intensive industry, which some have characterised as "development 2.0." Power relations are rarely foregrounded in this landscape, even though they shape what data and knowledge is constructed or discarded. Impact evaluation is one example of this intensive work, yet evaluation models seldom make power relations explicit or actionable. Furthermore, implicit models of data and knowledge on which impact evaluation processes rely also neglect power and social practice.The resulting problem is that power remains silent in development impact evaluation practice. In response, this article articulates an alternative, using Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) to analyse impact evaluation activities conducted by a UK-based philanthropic donor and their grantee in India, a small non-government organisation (NGO) doing rural development work. The analysis uses CHAT to illustrate how impact data, knowledge, and power are simultaneously generated during professional evaluation activities. The study broadens our view of impact and offers two contributions. Firstly, for researchers in information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) and knowledge management for development (KM4D), it contributes the application of a perspective on social practice, CHAT, to development evaluation. A novel extension to CHAT, the concept of "temporal activity chains," is put forward to complement the established activity system frame. Secondly, the article demonstrates a practice-based view of development impact evaluation for researchers and practitioners who wish to acknowledge and respond to the generation of unequal power dynamics during evaluation processes. KEYWORDScultural historical activity theory (CHAT), data, knowledge, power, international development, impact evaluationThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Section: Methodological Framework and Research Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodological Framework and Research Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

An activity theory study of data, knowledge, and power in the design of an international development NGO impact evaluation

Kelly

2018

Information Systems Journal

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“…Engestrom (2000) offers a model of activity based on five underpinning principles: that it is viewed as a collective network; it has multi-vocality and historicity, in that many individuals drive it over time; that problems drive progress; and it may evolve into a new form. Although Holzman (2006) argues that there is no consensus over what constitutes activity theory, Sannino, Daniels, and Gutiérrez, (2009) link activity theory to Soviet constructivist psychology, particularly Vygotsky (1978) and Davydov (1996), and the benefits of social learning as an aid to high level thinking. For Engestrom (1999, 29), 'activity theory has the conceptual and methodological potential to be a pathbreaker in studies that help humans gain control over their own artefacts and thus over their future'.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-creation and online learning

Stoten

Oliver

O’Brien

et al. 2018

Jnl of Applied Research in HE

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Northumbria University has developed Northumbria Research Link (NRL) to enable users to access the University's research output. Copyright © and moral rights for items on NRL are retained by the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. Single copies of full items can be reproduced, displayed or performed, and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided the authors, title and full bibliographic details are given, as well as a hyperlink and/or URL to the original metadata page. The content must not be changed in any way. Full items must not be sold commercially in any format or medium without formal permission of the copyright holder. The full policy is available online: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/policies.html This document may differ from the final, published version of the research and has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies. To read and/or cite from the published version of the research, please visit the publisher's website (a subscription may be required.)

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“…(Anon 2002) In the field of study of work activity theoretical approaches has been held last years as a promising theoretical and practical tool. Although there is no unified definition of activity theory (Holzman 2006) notions of agency and of object (Barab & Plucker 2002, Bedny & Harris 2005, Kaptelinin 2005, Leontiev 1977 are hold central in understanding and explaining human activity. In this article I will focus on how veterinarians experience their work, animals and clients applying activity theoretical way of thinking to interpret the results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The transforming object of the veterinarian’s clinical gaze

Paldanius¹

2008

SMST

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Although veterinary profession’s function in society is very important there are relatively a fewscientific studies about veterinary profession or how veterinarians’ experience their work. In the fieldof study of work approaches based in activity theory (AT), has been held during last 15 years as apromising theoretical and practical tool. As such there is no unified definition of activity theory. Oneof the central concepts in AT is the notion of object in understanding and explaining human activity.Idea is that when we understand the object of activity we have found the key to understand activitysystem. Human activity is seen multidimensional system or structure. When applying AT in researchimportant is how the subject interprets and approaches the problem space of her/his activity system. Inthis article I will focus on how municipal veterinarian in mixed practice experiences her/his work,animals and clients. I use activity theoretical notions to interpret the results.The empirical material was collected by means of participant observation and interviews of twoveterinarians – man and woman - in Eastern Finland during the time period June 2006 – October 2007.Observation time was altogether 3.5 working weeks, including approximately 120 – 130 consultationswith clients in consulting rooms and in the farms. The analyses of the notes and interviews were madeby theory driven content analysis. For analytical purposes I formed a typical case of two veterinarianswhose work I observed. I refer to the case by an acronym “the Vet”.The activity of veterinarian is described as a continuum preventive – curative/clinical – euthanasia.My interpretation is that for the veterinarian animals are the object of clinical gaze in the realm ofsocio-economic organisation. By clinical gaze is meant a perceptual model than mere to seeing, moreto functions like speaking, touching and knowing. But in this system the owners of animals form acritical factor. Client’s way to take care of their animals defines whether they are favourite clients ornot for the Vet and does the Vet feel that s/he is in the same boat or not with the client. The Vet feelsthat the owners of production animals understand her/his work better than owners of the pets. May bethe idea of production defines animals as objects more clearly and thus easier to agree about activitiesthan the idea about animal as a companion or friend?Activity theoretical concepts apply well in analysing veterinarian’s work in socio-economic systemwhere animals are used to satisfy human needs. But the notion of animal as object of veterinarian’sclinical gaze seems not to be enough in defining the special nature of veterinary work. In order tounderstand more fully the social dimension of activity of veterinarian, it is important to study howclients’ experience veterinarians and their work.

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What Kind of Theory is Activity Theory?

Cited by 39 publications

References 2 publications

An activity theory study of data, knowledge, and power in the design of an international development NGO impact evaluation

An activity theory study of data, knowledge, and power in the design of an international development NGO impact evaluation

Co-creation and online learning

The transforming object of the veterinarian’s clinical gaze

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