When should there be which kind of technology assessment? A plea for a strictly problem-oriented approach from the very outset

Abstract

Technology assessment (TA) is generally classified as problem-oriented and thus transdisciplinary research. This is due to the fact that the aim of TA is to work out solutions for problems outside science in order to offer advice to its addressees, namely those working in politics and science and members of society in general. In this paper, we propose that the problem-oriented approach also be used as the basis for the decision regarding when a TA should be conducted in a particular situation, and which TA should be used. As a first step to this end, a broad range-almost like a kind of coarse radar-and large number of topics or problem sketches are created, which then serve as a basis for a discursive process of negotiation, during which topics are to be carried over into a detailed problem analysis (''fine radar''). These detailed problem analyses, which are important for transdisciplinary research, represent in themselves small research projects (preprojects). They provide, in addition, some initial indications for a methodologically promising project design. The methodological approach described here is currently being tested in a procedure in which TA topics are being monitored for the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF).Résumé L'accréditation et l'évaluation de la technologie (technology assessment, ou TA) est généralement considérée comme de la recherche orientée sur le problème et donc transdisciplinaire. Ceci est dû au fait que le but du TA est de résoudre des problèmes qui existent en dehors de la science pour pouvoir mieux conseiller ceux à qui il s'adresse: les politiciens, les scientifiques et la société en général. Ici nous proposons que l'approche orientée sur le problème doive aussi être la base de la décision concernant le choix du TA ainsi que le moment propice de le mettre en oeuvre selon une situation spécifique. Dans une première étape, une large gamme et un grand nombre de sujets ou d'esquisses de problèmes sont créés-à la manière d'un radar à grosse maille-servant ainsi de base pour un processus discursif de négociation, processus dans lequel des sujets doivent être transférés vers une analyse détaillée du problème («radar fin»). Ces analyses détaillées de problème, importantes pour la recherche transdisciplinaire, représentent en elles-mêmes des petits projets de recherche (pré-projets). De plus, ces analyses donnent des indications initiales pour un design de projet méthodologiquement prometteur. L'approche méthodologique telle qu'elle est décrite ici est actuellement en train d'être testée: des sujets de TA sont supervisés par le Ministère Fédéral Allemand de l'Education et de la Recherche (Bundesministerium fu¨r Bildung und Forschung, BMBF).Zusammenfassung (Technikfolgenabschätzung (TA) wird gemeinhin als problemorientierte und damit transdisziplinäre Forschung eingeordnet. Das ist der Tatsache geschuldet, dass TA Problemlösungen für außerwissenschaftliche Probleme erarbeiten möchte, um beratend für die Adressaten Politik...

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