1 Actor |
Any entity capable of generating effect or leaving traces, represented by humans and, through semiotics, by non-human (Latour, 2001Latour, B. (2001). A esperança de pandora: Ensaios sobre a realidade dos estudos científicos. São Paulo: Edusp.). Law (1992Law, J. (1992). Notes on the theory of the actor-network: Ordering, strategy, and heterogeneity. Systems Practice, 5(4), 379-393., p. 380) suggests that “society, organizations, agents and machines are all effects generated in networks of various materials.” |
1.1 Actor-Network |
“A network with a particular pattern of heterogeneous and distinct relationships, or an effect caused by certain network.” (Law, 1992Law, J. (1992). Notes on the theory of the actor-network: Ordering, strategy, and heterogeneity. Systems Practice, 5(4), 379-393., p. 5). |
1.2 Black box |
Set of stable alliances around a single actant (Latour, 1988Latour, B. (1988). The pasteurization of France. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.). |
1.3 Spokesmen |
Seen as representative of the actants, the spokesman is tasked to expand the events so as to include non-human actors in the relationships (Latour, 2001Latour, B. (2001). A esperança de pandora: Ensaios sobre a realidade dos estudos científicos. São Paulo: Edusp.). |
1.4 Actor-focal |
Aims at balancing different interests and making actors become allies, towards a common target, supporting the establishment of the relationships of a given situation or context (Martins, 2011Martins, L. M. F. (2011). Uma perspectiva sociotécnica para a governança de tecnologia da informação baseada na Teoria Ator-Rede (Tese de doutorado). Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.). To perform certain role, the actor starts to behave as a mediator of the relationships, interfering, mobilizing and directing other actors for a proper configuration of the networks (Martins, 2011Martins, L. M. F. (2011). Uma perspectiva sociotécnica para a governança de tecnologia da informação baseada na Teoria Ator-Rede (Tese de doutorado). Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.). |
1.5 Obligatory passage point |
Refers to the obligation of the actors to go through a given point in the network (Callon, 1986Callon, M. (1986). Some elements of a sociology of translation: Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen. In: J. Law (org.), Power, action and belief: A new sociology of knowledge? (pp. 196-223). London: Routledge & Kegan.). |
2 Translation |
The translations allow the actants to relate and associate among themselves, generating strong or weak interactions, composed of discourse chains through which the agents are modified and translate their various interests (Latour, 2001Latour, B. (2001). A esperança de pandora: Ensaios sobre a realidade dos estudos científicos. São Paulo: Edusp.) in an attempt to form a cohesive whole (Callon & Latour, 1981Callon, M., & Latour, B. (1981). Unscrewing the big leviathan: How actors macrostructure reality and how sociologists help them to do so. In: K. K. Cetina, & A. Cicourel (org.). Advances in social theory and methodology: Toward an integration of micro and macro sociologies (pp. 277-303). London: Routledge & Kegan.). |
2.1 Problematization |
Refers to the determination of the actors of the networks and their identities, establishing an obligatory passage point in the establishment of networks (Callon, 1986Callon, M. (1986). Some elements of a sociology of translation: Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen. In: J. Law (org.), Power, action and belief: A new sociology of knowledge? (pp. 196-223). London: Routledge & Kegan.). |
2.2 Interessement |
Seeks to attract the interest of agents so that they can build robust alliances, through a series of artifacts and appealing mechanisms (Callon, 1986Callon, M. (1986). Some elements of a sociology of translation: Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen. In: J. Law (org.), Power, action and belief: A new sociology of knowledge? (pp. 196-223). London: Routledge & Kegan.). |
2.3 Enrollment |
Refers to assignment and coordination of potential roles to actors listed in problematization (Callon, 1986Callon, M. (1986). Some elements of a sociology of translation: Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen. In: J. Law (org.), Power, action and belief: A new sociology of knowledge? (pp. 196-223). London: Routledge & Kegan.). |
2.4 Mobilization of allies |
Some methods are used so that the main interests of the focal actors are not separated from the initial purpose and do not seek new possibilities to solve a given issue (Callon, 1986Callon, M. (1986). Some elements of a sociology of translation: Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen. In: J. Law (org.), Power, action and belief: A new sociology of knowledge? (pp. 196-223). London: Routledge & Kegan.). |
3 Hybrid relationships |
Refers to alliances between human and non-human actors in a certain context (Latour, 1999Latour, B. (1999). On recalling ANT. The Sociological Review, 47(1), 15-25.). |
3.1 Action at a distance |
To portray a fact, a reality or an event, actants need to act at a distance, in order to form alliances, causing effect relationships among the elements involved (Latour, 1988Latour, B. (1988). The pasteurization of France. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.). |
3.2 Fait faire |
Enables investigation as to the causal relationships enabled by objects (Latour, 1999Latour, B. (1999). On recalling ANT. The Sociological Review, 47(1), 15-25.). |
3.3 Center of calculation |
Locations where it is possible to quantitatively verify relevant information referring to networks, for example, laboratories, databases, research centers, organizations, government agencies, among others (Latour, 2005Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the social: An introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. New York: Oxford University Press.). |