USING ACTOR NETWORK THEORY FOR DATA ANALYSIS

Abstract

The present study explores how the visualization of an actor network enables researchers to understand mediating processes better by investigating relationships and effects among elements and entities other than human-actor accounts. In particular, the study presents how visualization may facilitate an understanding of the dynamics and structures of an ecological classroom and thus provide insightful reflections for analyzing data and for drawing conclusions. In doing so, the study explores the possibility that object-oriented thinking guided by actor–network theory (ANT) may allow researchers to understand what data means when the initial design/theoretical conjecture does not work. actor network may help researchers understand the mediating process better by them to expand different possibilities of relationships and effects among elements/entities beyond human actors. In particular, this study illustrates how object-oriented thinking for the mediating process helps researchers to understand what data mean.