Aligning the Research with Ambitions for Action

Abstract

Good futures researchers use various methods for factoring in the possible actions and policy ambitions that are likely to follow on from their work. First, they gather information about the actual practical interests underlying the research question and, importantly, document this information for later reference. Second, they choose an appropriate research design and then construct images of the future whose scope, time horizon, and decision-making parameters are in keeping with the principles of good scientific practice. Third, they carry out a research impact assessment to gauge the potential consequences of the work.