Structurating Activity Theory: An Integrative Approach to Policy Knowledge

This article presents a theoretical framework for investigating the communicative construction of policy knowledge. Research regarding public policy and organizational knowledge demonstrates the importance of these areas for organizational communication scholars. In light of this research, structurating activity theory is offered as an integration of structuration theory and cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT). Four theoretical constructs are discussed: (a) structuration through activity, (b) mediation of social activity, (c) contradictions as generative mechanisms, and (d) intersections of activity systems. Six propositions offer the explanatory significance of each construct, and then the theory is applied to a case study of the construction of special education policy knowledge. Additional applications of structurating activity theory are proposed and suggestions for future research directions are offered.