Coordination between heterogeneous epistemic actors

Abstract

This presentation will explore coordination dynamics between heterogeneous epistemic actors in the context of interdiscipline and knowledge hybridization. Many of the traditional interdiscipline approaches have focused on the integration of knowledge through the search for a common theory and language (Galison, 1997). This may include the creation of glossaries of terms and the definition of key concepts. However, recent perspectives have emphasized the importance of material and social aspects in coordination. These approaches are inspired by the concept of border objects, which can be defined as objects (in a very broad sense) that are in the limits between disciplines and communities, which serve to coordinate actors or social worlds in the absence of consensus (Star , 2010). Other important aspects are: the use of meta-work (Gerson, 2013), the work aimed at determining what work has to be done and how, and constitutes a key mechanism of coordination and integration, which extends time is standardized and It takes protocols, which can be used in various contexts; The interactive expertise (Collins, Evans and Gorman, 2007), which implies the acquisition of sufficient knowledge about a domain to interact with the experts of said space; Interoperability between methodologies and systems (Ribes and Bowker, 2009), which can imply the creation of data systems that are compatible with multiple methodologies and analysis tools; And finally, affective dynamics (Parker & Hettt, 2012) such as confidence, respect and mutual understanding are critical factors to promote effective collaboration between heterogeneous epistemic actors. In this presentation, I will discuss how these aspects can be applied to achieve better coordination between heterogeneous epistemic actors and presenting examples of its implementation in interdisciplinary research in neurosciences.