Technologies and Innovations in Regional Development: The European Union and its Strategies
Victor Cepoi (Volume editor)
Summary
approach to conceptualization and operationalisation for the purpose of empirical
research. It contributes a new perspective and approach in research on innovation.
We believe that SOFIA can have implications for both academic research and practical
applications in reshaping the existing instruments and governance arrangements
in innovation policy. Whilst applying SOFIA, we urge researchers to leverage
the plurality of different qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches
in innovation studies, including less conventional methods, such as QCA (Ragin,
2008). Diligent application of SOFIA can also subsequently lead to the development
of high-level theoretical contributions.
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- About the editors
- About the book
- This eBook can be cited
- Table of Contents
- List of Contributors
- Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA) to Research on Social Change: Innovations as Social Fields (Borut Rončević, Dolores Modic, and Tea Golob)
- EU, Grand Strategies, and Policy-Making
- The EU Strategies and Policies on Artificial Intelligence and Their Impact on Fundamental Values (Petra Kleindienst)
- Clusters vs Networks. A Dilemma for Regional Innovation Policy (Cristian Gangaliuc)
- Innovation 2.0 for Smart, Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in Regional Context
- Open Innovation and Its Impacts on Interorganisational Stability: A SOFIA Perspective Addressing the Sustainable Growth in Regional Context (Tamara Besednjak Valič)
- Is Open Innovation (2.0) Leading to the Circular Economy (2.0)? (Urška Fric)
- Technologies, Innovations and Regional Policy
- Technologies, Innovation and Regional Policy – It Is Not All About Business (Alenka Pandiloska Jurak)
- Innovation Process in the Framework of Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA): A Qualitative Assessment for Ireland and Slovenia (Victor Cepoi)
- Keywords Index
- Authors’ Index
List of Contributors
Tamara Besednjak Valič
Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, Slovenia
Victor Cepoi
Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, Slovenia
Urška Fric
Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto
Cristian Gangaliuc
Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, Slovenia
Tea Golob
School of Advanced Social Studies, Slovenia
Petra Kleindienst
School of Advanced Social Studies, Slovenia
Dolores Modic
Nord University, Norway
Alenka Pandiloska Jurak
Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, Slovenia
Borut Rončević
Faculty of Information Studies, Slovenia
Borut Rončević,Dolores Modic, andTea Golob
Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA) to Research on Social Change: Innovations as Social Fields
Abstract: This chapter introduces the Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA) to research on social change. This is an approach to conceptualisation and operationalization for the purpose of empirical exploration. In SOFIA, we understand the empirical reality as a social field shaped by the three social forces: institutions, social networks, and cognitive frames. Social fields and the social forces are conceptualised and operationalised in line with theoretical background and specific research questions for the purpose of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research.
In this chapter we first examine the theoretical background of the approach and provide the relevant literature review. We continue by outlining the approach. This is followed by elucidating SOFIA by applying it to innovation systems. We conclude by deliberating on the promise of the approach, carefully considering the challenges and dilemmas, and pondering over the potential of this approach for the future.
Keywords: Social-Fields-Approach, operationalisation, innovations, institutions, social networks, cognitive frames
1. Introduction
The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously stated that the only constant in life is change. Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah, written in 1377, perhaps the first work in the field of social sciences, attempts to unveil a pattern of historic changes in social organisations. Saint-Simone discussed ‘social physiology’, the processes running inside society, at the beginning of the 19th century, and Auguste Comte, the first to publish the term ‘sociology’, dedicated significant attention to ‘social dynamics’ in addition to ‘social statics’.
While the simplistic organic metaphor, specifically the classic approach to social change (Sztompka, 1994), was relatively early superseded by more complex and nuanced approaches, social change has always been in the minds of scholars. Modern social research is, to a significant extent, an intellectual response to the need to understand ambiguities, complexities, and new realities caused by the unprecedented transformations in all areas of social life, a result of technological and socio-economic changes caused by the industrial revolution.
Details
- Pages
- 160
- Publication Year
- 2022
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9783631838907
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9783631838914
- ISBN (MOBI)
- 9783631838921
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9783631838068
- DOI
- 10.3726/b17733
- Open Access
- CC-BY
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2021 (December)
- Published
- Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Warszawa, Wien, 2022. 160 pp., 3 fig. col., 2 tables.
- Product Safety
- Peter Lang Group AG
Biographical notes
Borut Rončević (Volume editor)
Victor Cepoi (Volume editor)
Borut Roncˇevic´, PhD, is a professor of sociology at the School of Advanced Social Studies (Nova Gorica, Slovenia) and Faculty of Information Studies (Novo mesto, Slovenia). He is the fellow of Regional Studies Association. He is Jean Monnet Chair of Cultural Political Economy of Europe 2030 and the head of Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence “Technologies and Innovations in Regional Development” (2017–2020) and Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence “Strategic Observatory for Europe 2030.” He was a visiting scholar at academic institutions in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Lebanon and Croatia. Victor Cepoi, PhD, is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Information Studies (Novo mesto, Slovenia) and School of Advanced Social Studies (Nova Gorica, Slovenia). He has experience working in various national and international projects as a researcher and project manager: Interreg Danube Region, Erasmus +, etc. Currently, he is a holder of a Jean Monnet Module “Technology and Innovation Communities 2030”.
