Volume 5, No. 2, Art. 36 – May 2004

How Do Trend Researchers Conduct Research? The Production of Knowledge in a Controversial Field

Michaela Pfadenhauer (Germany)

Abstract: The planned research project described in this article focuses on the methods of trend research—not only in a narrow literal sense of techniques of data collection and data evaluation but also in a broader understanding of the logic of knowledge production in this controversial field. Initially trend research can be appointed between market research on the one hand and futurology on the other hand. Criticism regarding trend research as well as its innovative potential is also mentioned. Following the recent studies, trend research is conceived as application-oriented research in a broad sense. As far as the methodology is concerned, the proposed study promises to be an empirically-founded contribution by integrating analysis from sources such as explorative and focused conversations, observations and expert interviews. The study uses the example of trend research and asks the question how research is actually "done" and if it is application oriented or not.

Key words: trends, trend research, market research, futurology, science studies, mode 2, legitimation of research, application orientation

This contribution is only available as a full text in the German language. German text

Volume 5, No. 2   Table of Contents

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