From episteme to techne: Crafting responsible innovation in trustworthy autonomous systems research practice

Abstract

This paper makes connections between the EPSRC AREA Framework for Responsible Research Innovation (RRI) and sociological, feminist and post-positivist methodological contributions to consider how the interpretive frames central to these traditions can bring valuable insights to practices of RRI. We argue that taking this interdisciplinary approach enables understanding the research process as a form of proficient craftwork or techne. Techne allows the richness of research methods debates to inform ways in which epistemic protocols can be strategically adjusted and reconfigured to more fully embed RRI principles in every stage of the research process. This enhances researchers’ capacity to minimise some of the undesirable and potentially harmful side effects of research practice and strive towards social good. We draw on fieldwork notes produced as part of our research on industrial cleaning robotics to illustrate how our craftwork approach to RRI is conducted in practice.