• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.85-125
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• 2014

This paper explores what we call 'the problem of undone social science' by examining the lack of interests in the social, ethical, and legal issues of synthetic biology among social scientists in Korea. This new field of science, which has emerged in the twenty-first century with the promise of solving future problems of energy, food, and disease in the world, has also created a considerable degree of anxiety over the issues of bioethics, biosafety, and biosecurity. From its beginning, therefore, researchers of synthetic biology in Europe and the U.S. have sought to engage social scientists in their projects. Yet scientists and social scientists in Korea have shown no sign of working together to deal with both potential benefits and risks of synthetic biology. Why this silence? What strategic moves would be needed to overcome the structural barrier for their collaboration? Surveying the diverse methodologies developed during and after ELSI (ethical, legal, social implications) experiments, this paper aims to provide three suggestions that might make possible mutually profitable and continuously stimulating dialogues between the two worlds of science and social science: first, institutionalize the ELSI studies on any newly emerging science and technology of concern; second, explore diverse post-ELSI methodologies experimented elsewhere and develop ones that might be applicable best to the Korean situation; and third and perhaps most important, create an intellectual space and a lawful protection for social scientists to exercise their research freedom at the reasonable level and receive a fair review by their peers, not solely by funding agencies and scientific organizations.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.101-152
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• 2018

This study discusses the research trends in Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) which recently emerged as the central concept among international innovation policy circles. In particular, we attend to the conceptual diversity of RRI, showing that each trend emphasizes different elements of RRI and reflects the context in which the concept has emerged. The first trend centers on research on governing emerging technologies which has been developed from the tradition of technology assessment and ELSI. The second trend has been closely related to the innovation policy efforts to take up the social challenge driven innovation as a new driving force for innovations. The third involves the attempts to operationalize the concept of RRI to evaluate whether the vision of RRI has been successfully incorporated in the actual innovation practices. We also insist that recent Korean R&D policies which emphasize social responsibility of science and technology include essential elements of RRI, although they do not use the term RRI. Finally, we discuss policy implications of discourse over RRI on such innovation policies.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.1 no.2 s.2
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• pp.423-438
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to understand how a teacher's teaching can be changed while he or she teaches the same contents in different classes. The qualitative research method was used in this study. Data were collected from classroom observations, several in-depth interviews, and stimulated-recall interviews after each class. All the data were transcribed and analyzed interpretively, and then, the results of the analysis were checked by each participating teacher. The results are as follows: First, changes appeared in each class in terms of the teaching items, tools, sequence, and time, even though the same teacher taught the same contents. It showed that the teacher's teaching practice changed immediately and intuitively in class. Second, teachers tried to implement "exploratory teaching" or "move-testing teaching" to address the emerging problems during their teaching. They then reflected on and modified their own teaching. This type of change, which happened during the teaching practice, can be an example of "Reflection-in-practice." Thus, the results of this study can provide helpful insights into how teachers might adapt and reflect in their teaching. It suggests that teachers need to recognize their subconscious teaching changes and learn "Reflection-in-practice."

• STI Policy Review
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.29-39
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• 2010

Science, technology, society and humanities (STSH) fusion research is aimed at creating new research areas and methods that can resolve complicated issues in society that cannot be solved by a single academic discipline. This study identifies initiatives that can promote STSH fusion research in Korea. We review the definition and characteristics of STSH fusion research to analyze the necessity of STSH fusion research with a focus on the structural changes in the S&T environment. The emergence and diffusion of generic technologies, transition to post catch-up innovation mode, and the evolution of policy to the third generation innovation policy are identified as notable changes. This paper briefly reviews the status of fusion research underway and presents initiatives to promote STSH fusion research.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.267-273
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this review article is to introduce how the Korean Society of Genetic Nursing (KSGN) has evolved and tried to translate genomic knowledge to nursing practice, and then to suggest the future role of genetic nurses in Korea. Methods: A literature review was performed and the current status of genetic counselling in Korea was explored. Then the educational and clinical experiences of the authors were incorporated. Finally, the main activities of Korean nursing for genetics were identified. Results: Two types of genetic counsellor certification have been issued in Korea: one is issued by the Korean Society of Genetic Medicine, another by the Korean Society of Breast Cancer since June 2011. A few Korean nursing researchers have continuously performed research related to genetic nursing and undertook several research projects funded by the government since 2003. In February 2011, KSGN was established and is now trying to establish further international networks. Conclusion: Nursing genetic experts should be trained to integrate all specialties for genetic counselling, so they can provide holistic genetic services including ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI).

• Survey Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-29
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• 2003

Telephone surveys miss, among other people, those who live in homes without telephones, people who are away from home at the time of interview and people who refuse to be interviewed. Recently, mobile phone survey has emerged as “A replacement technology” to the old telephone survey method. Mobile survey enables us to do many things we could not do or could not afford to do before, and reatly enhance the efficiency if the opinion surveys. Very specifically, the mobile survey enables us to control respondent's accessability, interviewer bias and to do incredibly fast and at a affordable costs. The authors analyze the results of mobile-phone local election polls and ELSI bio-technology attitude survey. The authors describe their results, the methods they used, including the use of demographic and propensity weighting to correct for substantial biases in the raw, unweighted data. The results show that mobile survey can predict the election outcomes with approximately equal accuracy to that of the telephone poll after weighting. This paper also cautions readers not to assume that mobile survey can be used with equal success in other elections and emphasizes the need for continuing research to improve mobile survey methods in the future.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-85
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• 2014

This study aims to highlight the social aspects of genetic discrimination as another shadow that biotechnology can influence on social life. To do so, the definition of "genetic discrimination" and three perspectives (exceptionalism, expressivism, and human right discourse) were reviewed. In addition, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of the United States and the Bioethics and Safety Act of Korea were analyzed. Several social implications for establishing the research and policies of genetic discrimination based on the existing research results of perceived genetic discrimination (the experiences, fears, and coping strategies of genetic discrimination) were suggested. These included public consensus on the definition of genetic discrimination and emphasis on a human rights approach against genetic discrimination; concerns regarding genetic discrimination in both the personal and public domains; raising the consciousness of both health care providers and the public regarding genetic discrimination; and developing psycho-social coping strategies for decreasing the fear of discrimination of asymptomatic people (hereditary carriers).

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.139-175
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• 2014

For the past 20 years, expert groups and citizens in Korea have debated on the usefulness of personalized medicine. These debates were mainly focussed on the possibility of the promise - people mainly discussed whether it was a probable future or if it was just a hype. Following Hedgecoe and Tutton(2002) who argue that it is only a 'rhetorial device', we will analyze about 9,000 news media coverages that deal with personalized medicine. With these data, we will show that the same terminology of personalized medicine have been used very differently according to the time and people who use it. Our research will show that this term has both diachronic heterogeneity and synchronic equivocality. This has happened because of the innate lack that exists in our symbolic system. Policy and governance regarding new technology is important because they provide quilting point to those slippery term/signifiant. Also we would like to carefully suggest that we might be able to call this phenomena as signifiant-politics.