A review of theoretical foundation and key concepts of futures studies regards to development of implementation framework of Futures Studies

Subject Areas : Futurology

Ardeshir  Sayah Mofazali ¹ (کارشناس گروه پژوهشی آینده پژوهی پژوهشگاه علوم انسانی و مطالعات اجتماعی جهاد دانشگاهی و دانشجوی دکتری آینده پژوهی)
Alireza  Asadi ² (کارشناس گروه پژوهشی آینده پژوهی پژوهشگاه علوم انسانی و مطالعات اجتماعی جهاد دانشگاهی و دانشجوی دکتری آینده پژوهی)

Received: 2014-10-14 Accepted : 2015-01-06 Published : 2015-04-21

Keywords: Futures studies- forecasting- ,

Abstract :

Futures studies as an academic field is a new era of social science that concerns a historical issue knowing future, in scientific approach. Futures Studies as a branch of social science has its own paradigms, theories and schools of thoughts that explains future dimension. During decades many methods and tools has been developed to study trends, emerging issues and events by scholars and professionals. In this paper authors are reviewing the evolution of theoretical foundations of futures studies to explain the key concepts and basis of this era; Including the development of thinking about future of civilization and utopia since the 16th century to the present, differences between prediction and futures study, alternative futures versus single predefined future, dimensions of the future, path dependencies versus future breaking, tools and methods of futures studies. In light of this review, a conceptual framework has been developed to choose appropriate strategy for futures studies research. However without deep understanding and systematic methodology of futures research, applying tools could not meet the complicated needs of societies and organization in face of emerging issues in further new world.