Quantitative and qualitative approaches in Future-oriented Technology Analysis (FTA): From combination to integration?

While the FTA community brings together a set of disciplines trying to better understand and shape the future, the divide between quantitative and qualitative practices in the field remains largely unsolved, and the debate often focuses on mixing quantitative and participatory approaches. Yet, current trends in FTA and the increasing policy demand for robust evidence for decision making indicate that there may be a momentum for pushing forward the field in the direction of methodological integration, increasing its relevance for policy, business and society. This paper aims to contribute to this debate by assessing and mapping the methodological evolution of the field through a three-level taxonomy. It shows how significant progress has been made for simpler forms of combinations but not for more sophisticated (and more promising) ones. In light of this, it identifies the obstacles preventing such deeper integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches and proposes a way forward.

HAEGEMAN Karel;  MARINELLI Elisabetta;  SCAPOLO Fabiana;  RICCI Andrea;  SOKOLOV Alexander; 

2013-03-06

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

JRC69478

0040-1625,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162512002466,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC69478,   

10.1016/j.techfore.2012.10.002,