van der Meij Marjoleine G, Heltzel Anouk A L M, Broerse Jacqueline E W, Kupper Frank
1Athena Institute, VU University of Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Building 1081, Room S554, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2Athena Institute, VU University of Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Building 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Nanoethics. 2018;12(2):155-172. doi: 10.1007/s11569-018-0318-9. Epub 2018 Jun 11.
Synthetic biology is an emerging technology that asks for inclusive reflection on how people frame the field. To unravel how we can facilitate such reflection, this study evaluates the Frame Reflection Lab (FRL). Building upon playfulness design principles, the FRL comprises a workshop with video-narratives and co-creative group exercises. We studied how the FRL facilitated frame reflection by organizing workshops with various student groups. Analysis of 12 group conversations and 158 mini-exit surveys yielded patterns in first-order reflection (problem analysis and solution finding in reflection on the development of synthetic biology as a field) as well as patterns in second-order reflection (reflection on values and assumptions underlying the first-order reflection). Also patterns in participants' (re)framing of synthetic biology could be induced; participants' viewpoints converged to some extent, yet with openness to individual viewpoint differences. Although the FRL method fortified the reflection processes of participants, the narratives and the workshop's flexible format could inhibit the reflection too. Therefore, we advise designers of future frame reflection methods to apply stronger conversational facilitation and narratives of slightly mysterious yet identifiable narrators, in case e.g. video-narratives are created and used to scaffold the reflection process. Nevertheless, we argue that the use of a playful frame reflection method like the FRL could function well as (1) a step to precede more application-specific deliberation or decision-making on synthetic biology and as (2) a method for the collection of contemporary citizen viewpoints plus rationales underlying these, for the further (societally) responsible development of the emerging field.
合成生物学是一项新兴技术，它要求人们对该领域的构建方式进行全面反思。为了弄清楚如何促进这种反思，本研究对框架反思实验室（FRL）进行了评估。基于趣味性设计原则，FRL包括一个配有视频叙事和共同创作小组练习的工作坊。我们通过组织面向不同学生群体的工作坊，研究了FRL如何促进框架反思。对12组对话和158份小型退场调查问卷的分析，得出了一阶反思（对合成生物学作为一个领域的发展进行反思时的问题分析和解决方案寻找）的模式，以及二阶反思（对一阶反思背后的价值观和假设进行反思）的模式。还可以归纳出参与者对合成生物学的（重新）构建模式；参与者的观点在一定程度上趋于一致，但也对个体观点差异持开放态度。尽管FRL方法强化了参与者的反思过程，但叙事和工作坊的灵活形式也可能抑制反思。因此，我们建议未来框架反思方法的设计者，在例如创建视频叙事并用于支撑反思过程的情况下，采用更强有力的对话引导方式，以及由略显神秘但可识别的叙述者进行的叙事。尽管如此，我们认为使用像FRL这样的趣味性框架反思方法可以很好地发挥以下作用：（1）作为在对合成生物学进行更具体应用的审议或决策之前的一个步骤；（2）作为一种收集当代公民观点及其背后理由的方法，以促进这个新兴领域的进一步（对社会负责的）发展。
