Lars Gerhold & Dirk Holtmannspötter 
Standards of Futures Research 
Guidelines for Practice and Evaluation

Foresight, futures studies, but also technology assessment and trend research are characterized by a research perspective directed towards the future. These results in fundamental peculiarities have to be taken into account in the conception of studies and in practical research work. The contributions to this anthology offer guidance for scientists and practitioners and describe the criteria and standards by which the quality of results and processes in futures studies can be assessed.

Table of Content

Images of the Future.- Modality.- Validation by Argumentation.- Aligning Research with Ambitions for Action.- Interdisciplinarity.- Transdisciplinarity.- Objectives and Framework Conditions.- Transparency.- Theoretical Foundations.- Method Selection.- Producing Quality Research.- Scientific Relevance.- Codes of Conduct and Scientific Integrity.- Practical Relevance, Usefulness, and Effectiveness.- Understanding the Type, Role, and Specificity of the Research Audience.- Transferability and Communication of Results.- Identifying Decision-Making Spaces and Options.- Project and Process Management.

About the author

Prof. Dr. Lars Gerhold, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany




Dr. Dirk Holtmannspötter, VDI Technologiezentrum Gmb H, Düsseldorf, Germany



Dr. Christian Neuhaus, Futuresaffairs, Berlin, Germany


FH-Prof. Dr. Elmar Schüll, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Austria



Beate Schulz-Montag, foresightlab, Berlin, Germany


Dr. Karlheinz Steinmüller, Z_punkt Gmb H The Foresight Company, Cologne, Germany

Prof. Dr. Dr. Axel Zweck, RWTH Aachen/VDI Technologiezentrum Gmb H, Düsseldorf, Germany