Structuration Theory

Structuration theory (ST) is a social theory used by communication studies scholars to explain connections between situated interactions and social structures of meaning, norms, and power. Most commonly associated with sociologist Anthony Giddens, structuration theory was proposed and elaborated to reconcile conceptual differences in social research between those who focus solely on macro-processes, such as institutional power, and those who focus solely on micro-processes, such as situated interactions. ST views macro-processes and micro-processes as inextricably linked through ongoing, recursive social practice. ST is a broad theoretical perspective rather than a theory with a concrete set of testable propositions and its own methodological assumptions. As such, it has been used in studies across a variety of communication contexts, [Page 1688]including organizations, technology-mediated communication, small ...