Methods

Name	Description	Source	More	Category
Participatory modelling	Participatory modelling combines the modelling of complex systems using computer simulations and participatory approaches of social science.	Hare 2011	Basco-Carrera 2017	TA
BarCamp	It works by allowing participants to decide what they want to talk about. Speakers are not selected in advance, but only during the conference.	TAB 2021 (Evers-W�lk et al.), S.21ff. & 56		TA
Digital Collaboration	Digital collaboration processes enable people or groups to work together to generate ideas, share insights or discuss and finalise drafts. In principle, digital collaboration processes are suitable for all stakeholder groups, including citizens.	TAB 2021 (Evers-W�lk et al.), S.33ff. & 59		TA
CIVISTI	CIVISTI method: "Citizens? Visions on Science, Technology and Innovation" "CIVISTI proceeds in three main steps. step one: generation of citizens? visions; step two: generation of experts? recommen-dations based on citizens? visions; and step three: validation of recommendations by citizens."	Sotoudeh & Gudowsky 2018		TA
Design Fiction	Combination of design and elements of science fiction to address future-related issues	Markussen & Knutz 2013		TA
Data sharing	The term ,data sharing' describes the voluntary and informed collection and sharing of data for the purpose of answering a scientific question	TAB 2021 (Evers-W�lk et al.), S.25ff. & 57	BfG 2020 (Strech et al.)	TA
Delphi	Experts analyse and evaluate statements and theses on future developments. Against this background, several rounds of consultation take place. After each round, a summary of the various responses is prepared. This is then sent back to those involved.	Linstone & Turoff 2011	Cuhls 2003	TA
Real-Time Delphi	A real-time Delphi [...] is a special form of the Delphi method. In a Delphi process, experts evaluate statements or hypotheses on future developments in a structured survey based on their professional knowledge and experience	TAB 2021 (Evers-W�lk et al.), S.41ff. & 61	Niederberger & Renn (2019)	TA
4CAT	4CAT is a "open-source Web-based research tool. 4CAT can capture data from a variety of online sources (including Twitter, Telegram, Reddit, 4chan, 8kun, BitChute, Douban and Parler) and analyze them through analytical processors. 4CAT seeks to make robust data capture and analysis available to researchers not familiar with computer programming, without ?black-boxing? the implemented research methods."	Peeters & Hagen 2022	Github	O
DMI	The Digital Methods Initiative (DMI) is a Internet Studies research groups. It "designs methods and tools for repurposing online devices and platforms (such as Twitter, Facebook and Google) for research into social and political issues."	Digital Methods Initiative		O
B!SON	Database to search for possible Open Access journals. Based on title, abstract or references, it suggests journals that may be suitable for your own publication.	B!SON		O
VOSviewer	"VOSviewer is a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks."	VOSviewer		O
RS-Lynx	Media analysis, video, audio and text data from numerous online sources. Option to create your own data panels. Trend, conversation and cluster analyses.	Radiosphere		O
TAB Foresight	The TAB identifies trends and systemic risks that are relevant to the resilience of critical infrastructure systems.	TAB		TA
Extraction and analysis of keywords	In particular, the analysis of a large number of scientific publications is associated with manual tasks. To reduce this effort, various methods of descriptive calculation and machine learning exist that can be used to support a scientific literature review. In this context, keyword extraction can be used to automatically recognise keywords in texts.	Barton & Peuker 2022		O
Gephi	"Gephi is an open-source software for visualizing and analysing large networks graphs"	Gephi		O
Collection of methods for sustainability assessment	Comprehensive collection of methods for sustainability assessment. (see in particular p. 77ff.)	Andes et al. 2019		TA
FAQ: AI and research integrity	Collection of questions on the topic of AI and research integrity	Frisch 2024		O
Perplexity	Large Language Model (LLM): This is useful for research, for example. It can be used to suggest search terms or to request recommendations for databases. TRANSLATE	KIT Library: Training on AI Tools in the Research Process		O
Argument Cards	Complex arguments can be analysed and organised at different levels of detail.	TAB 2021 (Evers-W�lk et al.), S.17 ff. & 55	Frank, Scheidler, Schmid 2024	TA
ki-suche.io	Search engine for AI portals and projects grouped by category	KIT Library: Training on AI Tools in the Research Process		O
ResearchRabbit	AI-based platform that recommends papers and authors potentially matching a literature collection based platform that recommends papers and authors potentially matching a literature collection; Evaluation of citation relationships; can be used with a free account	KIT Library: Training on AI Tools in the Research Process		O
Inciteful	Search on the basis of a paper for potentially relevant publications, institutions, authors and journals as well as links between two papers.	KIT Library: Training on AI Tools in the Research Process		O
Trend Cards	Trend cards are useful for dialogue-oriented processes in TA. They can be used to present findings or familiar challenges in a brief form and to identify possible trends.	TAB 2021 (Evers-W�lk et al.), S.49ff. & 63	Helsinki 2018	TA
Consensus	AI-based scientific search engine; based on data from Semantic Scholar; uses GPT-4, etc. Limited use with a free account.	KIT Library: Training on AI Tools in the Research Process		O
LOTA	The "LOTA" (Landscape of Opinions for Technology Assessment) method is based on global objectives that are presented to the participants as a normative reference framework. They can select and prioritise objectives and thus express their normative orientations. The software tool of the same name visualises an "opinion landscape" based on the data from the online survey.	Mader et al. 2019	TA-SWISS 2023	TA
AI Applications for Social Science Research	Database of 250 Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for the social sciences. The following purposes are covered: literature reviews, summaries, or writing, data collection, analysis, or visualizations, and research dissemination.	Stubbs-Richardson et al. 2023	The conversation	O
Guide to Participation in Research	The informative guide is divided into two parts. The first part presents different participatory approaches and provides further reading recommendations. The second part takes a closer look at ten areas of action, ranging from participation to ethical aspects.	Schr�gel 2025		TA, O
Semantic Scholar	A free, AI-powered research tool for scientific literature. Support and further development by the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Can be used without an account, extended functions with a free account (use via university account possible).	KIT Library: Training on AI Tools in the Research Process		O
Long-term Governance	Climate change, global pollution and nuclear disposal can have significant consequences for society. To address them adequately, we need ways of thinking and making decisions that go beyond the short-term. This is where long-term governance approaches come in.	Scheer et al. 2025		TA
Social Media Data Analysis	Social Media Data Analysis uses insights from social and computer science. It can be used to analyse social media as a supplementary source of information for a topic analysis.	Uhl, Kolleck, Schiebel 2017		TA, O
Transdisciplinary and transformative research: a collection of methods	Recipe-like guidelines for implementing research methods ? especially in Real-world Lab contexts..	Defila & Di Giulio 2018	Defila & Di Giulio 2019	TA, O
LLM-Literacy	An introduction to the use of LLM AI applications with online courses and videos.		Videos	O
Methods for technology assessment	Methods are of central importance for technology assessment (TA). Knowledge about the consequences and risks of technology must be generated, discussed, evaluated and communicated. TA draws on a variety of knowledge-generating, collaborative and communicative methods, which are constantly evolving and new methods are being added. The book reflects on the current state of the discussion on methods in TA and discusses future challenges. Five thematic sections cover the topics of ?methodological requirements in TA?, ?conceptual considerations?, ?artificial intelligence as a topic and method in TA?, ?methods in the context of transformation? and ?methodological innovations?. The contributions in this anthology aim to further develop the methodological foundations of TA and thus strengthen its importance for shaping the future.	Ornetzeder, Sotoudeh, Peissl (eds.) 2025		TA
Springer Nature - Journal and funding finder	Springer Nature offers a service that allows users to find scientific journals that would be suitable for their manuscript by entering a manuscript title, abstract or keywords. Springer Nature also provides information on open access funding.			O

Technology Assessment uses a wide range of methods, which can be combined as necessary. It involves scientists from different disciplines as well as people from practice and citizens.

The following collection brings together selected methods that can be used in Technology Assessment. It also includes approaches to facilitate everyday TA work. The list is constantly being expanded.