(2017) Science and education, 11, 18-26. Odessa.

Gregory Bedny,
Doctor of Psychology, professor,
Essex County College,
303, University Ave, Newark, USA

ACTIVITY THEORY IN THE WEST AS A
POTENTIAL APPROACH FOR APPLIED STUDIES

Activity theory has been developed in the former Soviet Union for the period of more than 70 years. It also received recognition in the West, and particularly in the USA. In this work, we present critical analysis of the translation and interpretation of the basic concepts of activity theory in the psychological publications in the West from the systemic-structural activity theory perspectives. According to SSAT framework, activity is understood as a process and a structure that consists of hierarchically organized units that unfolds in time. We will consider basic concepts of activity theory and will outline some difficulties which Western scientists experience in their interpretation and application of the theory in science and practice.

general, applied and systemic-structural activity theories; goal concept in psychology; cognitive and motor actions; self-regulation.

1. Austin, J. T., Vancouver, J. B. (1996). Goal construct in psychology: Structure, process and content. Psychological Bulletin, 120 (3), 338-375.
2. Bedny, G. Z., (1987). The psychological foundations of analyzing and design work process. Kiev, Ukraine: Higher Education Publishers.
3. Bedny, G.Z. Meister, D. (1997). The Russian Theory of Activity. Current Application to design and Learning. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers. Mahwah, New Jersey. 
4. Bedny, G. Z., Karwawski, W. (2007). A Systemic-Structural Theory of Activity. Application to Human Performance and Work Design. Taylor and Francis. 
5. Bedny, G.Z. (2015). Application of SystemicStructural Activity Theory to Design and Training. CRC press, Taylor and Francis Group. 
6. Bedny, G. Z., Karwowski, W., and Bedny, I. S. (2015). Applying Systemic-Structural Activity Theory to Design of Human-Computer Interaction Systems. CRC Press Taylor and Francis Group. 
7. Brushlinsky, A. V. (1979). Thinking and Forecasting. Moscow; Thinking Press.
8. Cole, M., Maltzman, I., (Eds.) (1969). A Handbook of Contemporary Soviet Psychology. New York: Basic Books, Inc., Publishers. 
9. Engestrom, Y. (1999). Activity theory and individual and social transformation. In Y. Engestrom, R. Miettinen, and R.-L. Punamaki (Eds.), Perspectives on Activity Theory. Cambridge, UK.: Cambridge University Press, pp. 19-38. 
10. Kotik, M. A. (1978). Textbook of engineering psychology. Tallin, Estonia: Valgus 
11. Konopkin, O. A. (1980), Psychological mechanisms of regulation of activity. Moscow: Science Publishers. 
12.Locke, E. A., Lathman, G. P. (1990). Work motivation: the high performance cycle. In Kleinbeck, V. et al. (Ed.). Work Motivation: (pp. 3-26), Hillsdale, 
13. Kuuiti, K. (1997). Activity theory as potential framework for human-computer interaction research. In B. A. Nardi (Ed.). Context and Consciousness: Activity Theory and Human-Computer Interaction. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, pp. 17-44. 
14. Nardi, A. (1997). Context and Consciousness: AT and Human-Computer Interaction. Cambrigge, MA: The MIT Pres, pp. 17-44. 
15. Ponomarenko, V. A., Zavalova, N. D. (1981). Readiness to act in emergency situation. Aviation and Aeronautics, 6, 10-14
16. Ponomarenko, V. V., Bedny, G.Z. (2011). Characteristics of Pilots’ Activity in Emergency Situations Resulting from Technical Failure. In G. Z. Bedny, W. Karwowski (Eds.). Human-Computer Interaction and Operators’ Performance. Optimizing Work Design with Activity Theory. pp. 223-254 
17. Pervin, L. A. (1989). Goal concepts, themes, issues, and questions. In Pervin (Ed.) Goal Concepts in Personality and Social Psychology. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, pp. 173-180. 
18. Strelkov, Ju. K. (2007). Operationallymeaningful structures of professional experience. In V. A. Bodrov (Ed.). Psychological basis of professional activity. Logos Publisher. pp. 261-269. 
19. Strelkov, Ju. K. (2007). Action as unit of psychological analysis of operator’s work. In V. A. Bodrov (Ed.). Psychological basis of professional activity. Logos Publisher. pp. 808-813. 
20. Suchman, L. A. (1987). Plans and Situated Actions: The Problem of Human-Machine Interaction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
21.Tolman, E. C. (1932). Purposive Behavior in Animals and Man. New York: Century.
22. Vancouver, J. T. (2005). Self-regulation in organizational settings. A tale of two paradigms. In M. Boekaerts, P. R. Pintrich, and M. Zeidner (Eds.). Handbook of Self-Regulation. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, pp. 303-341. 
23. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society. The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 
24.Wertsch, V. (Ed.) (1981). The Concept of Activity in Soviet Psychology. New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., Armonk.
25.Zarakovsky G. M. (1966). Psychological Analysis of Work Activity; Logical-Probability Approach. Moscow: Science Publishers. 
26.Zinchenko, V. P. (1972). On microstructural method of analysis of cognitive activity. Collection of works. All-Union Scientific Institute of Technical Esthetics.