Abstract
Distributed cognition provides a theoretical framework for the analysis of data from socio-technical systems within a problem-solving framework. While the approach has been applied in tightly-constrained activity domains, composed of well-structured problems and highly organised infrastructures, little is known about its use in other forms of activity systems. In this paper, we explore how distributed cognition could be applied in less well constrained settings, with ill-structured problems and loosely organised resources sets, critically reflecting on this using data from a field study. The findings suggest that the use of distributed cognition in an augmented form can be useful in the analysis of a wide range of activity systems in loosely coupled settings.
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Notes
- 1.
In ethnography, this is also confusingly known as its representation. Use of the word ‘representation’ is distinct in meaning to its use in DCog, where it is applied to the symbol processing activities conducted in the functional system, and not by the analyst.
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The article has greatly benefited from discussions with Jon Hindmarsh, Kenton O’Hara and Barry Brown.
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Perry, M. (2013). Socially Distributed Cognition in Loosely Coupled Systems. In: Cowley, S., Vallée-Tourangeau, F. (eds) Cognition Beyond the Brain. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5125-8_9
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