TRADITIONAL AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY-ASSESSMENT - TOWARD A TOOLKIT

Technology assessment (TA) as a discipline includes rather different a pproaches and methods. Traditionally, the discipline has focused on fo recasting, impact assessment, and policy studies. Later more process-o riented approaches, such as constructive technology assessment (CTA), were developed that were aimed explicitly at influencing the shape of new technologies. Although the new approaches have enriched the field of technology assessment, the scope and variety of the field has incre ased, particularly concerning its methods. These range from trend extr apolation and Delphi's to interventions in innovation networks and con sensus conferences. This article aims to classify the approaches and m ethods of TA into a common framework. Distinctions are made between me thods of analysis and intervention methods, and between methods functi oning as project layout and mere tools. Some criteria are formulated f or the choice of methods. In this way, the article attempts to increas e the coherence of the field of TA, and to make it more transparent to nonpractitioners such as scientists and engineers, government employe es, and members of civil movements. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.