Seminar: “Methods from Socio-Technical Studies”

On 20 January 2026, at Room B010, Ton Duc Thang University, a seminar entitled “Methods from Socio-Technical Studies” was successfully held, featuring a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Linda Leung, an expert in Arts, Culture, and Digital Creative Industries from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The speaker’s primary research focus lies in the humanistic dimensions of technology, particularly how people interact with technological systems and devices.

The seminar was moderated by Dr. John Hutnyk, Research Lecturer of the Department of Sociology, and attracted the participation of lecturers, postgraduate students, undergraduate students, and scholars with related academic interests.

During the seminar, the speaker clarified the concept of Socio-Technical Studies and its connections with other social science disciplines. She emphasized the crucial role of qualitative research methods in complementing quantitative data, enabling a deeper understanding of users’ experiences, behaviors, and real needs—dimensions that purely statistical data cannot fully capture. In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Linda Leung introduced several widely used qualitative research methods, including direct observation, laboratory observation, ethnographic studies, and remote user testing combined with surveys. When appropriately adapted, research methods from the social sciences and humanities allow scholars to gain a comprehensive understanding of the contexts in which technologies are used, thereby contributing to more effective design and improvement of digital systems, applications, and services.

Following the presentation, the seminar continued with an engaging discussion and exchange of ideas among academics, learners, and interested scholars.

The seminar offered valuable insights and opened up new approaches for students, lecturers, and researchers interested in the interdisciplinary intersection of people, society, and technology.

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