Daniel Menchik’s research focuses on several areas of inquiry linked by a broad interest in the cultures and social organization of medicine, science, and other areas of expert work. In short, he is interested in how social relationships among people, groups, and institutions influence the creation and use of knowledge, social status, and authority. His methodological approach to such questions has been diverse, including social network analysis, archival and library research, content analysis, interview research, and ethnographic observation. In a book manuscript, he is writing about how doctors organize their work in a way that enables them to retain control over tasks, strengthen medicine’s coalescence, and ultimately, manage its authority. Recently, he has also been studying: how language is used to manage expectations in end-of-life interactions; the social organization of arms-length relationships; and the automation of expert knowledge in medicine and other occupations.
We are thrilled to announce that the grant project 'The Social Context of Medical Innovations: Patterns in the Adoption and use of Surgical Robotics from a Transnational Perspective' has been awarded by the Bi-National Science Foundation. Daniel Menchik, a sociology researcher, will lead the study. Menchik's research focuses on the social aspects of medicine, science, and expert fields.
Key aspects of the project include:
- Examining how social relationships influence the creation, use, and dissemination of surgical robotics technology
- Analyzing patterns in the adoption and use of surgical robotics from a transnational perspective
- Exploring the impact of social contexts on the acceptance and integration of surgical robotics in healthcare systems worldwide.
- Investigating how the use of surgical robotics affects doctor-patient relationships and medical authority.