S.TRUEMAN PhD THESIS 2016

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material-semiotic approach which describes the enactment of materially and discursively heterogeneous relations that produce and reshuffle all kinds of actors’ (Law, 2007, p. 2). Actor-network theory encompasses objects, symbols, subjects, human beings, machines, ‘nature’, ideas, organisations, inequalities, technologies, and geographical arrangements. Actor-network theory is descriptive and tells stories about ‘how’ relations are assembled (or not). It brings sensibility to the messy interactions of rationality and materiality of the world. Thus actor-network theory is ‘located in many different case studies, practices and locations, done in many different ways, and draw[s] on a range of theoretical resources. This better catches the openness, uncertainty, revisability and diversity of the … work’ (Law, 2007, p. 2). 8.2.1 Three underlying principles The researcher was mindful of three underlying principles in adopting actor network theory: generalised symmetry, agnosticism and free association (Callon, 1986a). The principle of generalised symmetry is reflected in the radical (and controversial) way in which actor-network theory defines actors (Van House, 2003). No distinction is made between human and non-human actors. In this study both were qualitatively analysed without distinction (Callon, 1986a; Law, 1986c, 1987, 1988). As a result, both human and non-human actors have the ability to make actions, and can be anyone or anything (Law, 1986a). Agnosticism requires the researcher to remain impartial, thereby ensuring all interpretations remain unprivileged. Accordingly, the researcher systematically and persistently avoided censoring any interpretation provided by the actors (Callon, 1986a), even when presented or confronted with contrary interpretations to his own (Callon, 1986a;