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A recipe for making deep, meaningful images of the future Exploring the trans-cultural images of the future of young adults By M.A. Akhgar S. Kaboli & Prof.

1 A recipe for making deep, meaningful images of the future Exploring the trans-cultural images of the future of young adults By M.A. Akhgar S. Kaboli & Prof. Petri Tapio Finland Futures Research Centre University of Turku Images of the future are: Products of knowledge, taste, values and needs Representatives of fears, hopes and anticipations for the future Influential on their holders' decisions and behaviors. When the future becomes reality, it includes the elements of the previously held images of the future. Figure 1, Interaction between images of the future and the societal context 2 1

2 Research methods In choosing the research methods for picturing the contemporary images of the future, we should consider: - Complex nature of the images of the future - The complexity within the societal context - Access to different levels of the individuals understandings and their deeper emotions 3 10 interviewees: between years old Collecting research material undergraduate or graduate students equal number of males and females different cultural and national backgrounds (eight different nationalities) different educational backgrounds (social science, medical science, arts, computer science ) The interviewees were not representatives of any specific groups. 2

Collecting research material In-depth interview, using grand tour questions - Provides the possibility for deeper and more detailed answers in a comfortable discussion - Motivates the interviewees to

3 Collecting research material In-depth interview, using grand tour questions - Provides the possibility for deeper and more detailed answers in a comfortable discussion - Motivates the interviewees to tell more about their perceptions and feelings Grand tour questions: - Designed in a nondirective manner. Location is a remarkable factor for the quality of the results - The perspectives of the answers are not specified in the questions. - Do not include the terms of the answers they might solicit. 5 Collecting research material Active imagination process - Helps to approach the subconscious - Dependent on the procedure of implementation, provides a path to collective unconscious and archetypes Location is a remarkable factor for the quality of the results 6 3

4 Analysis of the research material Deductive Qualitative Content Analysis Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) as a framework for analysis Figure 2, CLA pyramid for creating images of the future (Inayatullah 2004, 543) 7 Alternative TRANSCULTURAL images of the future of the young adults of this study They do not reflect the views of a specific national, gender or educational group. 8 4

5 1. Living with the Chill 2. Fear and Hope 5

6 3. Life as a Chance for Dedication 4. Imagine! 6

7 Interpretation of the created images of the future: Images of the future of young adults of this study picture the future in terms of presence or absence of current sociopolitical concerns and do not exceed this framework. Optimism or pessimism towards the future affect the individuals perceived locus of control and their understanding of humans influence: Extensive negative or positive images passivity, apathy Images with more moderate the future Locus of control 13 Additional Slides 7

8 Current societal context Late modernity: Advanced phase of modernity more choices & opportunities higher risks & uncertainties - Characterized by individualization decline of paid employment environmental crisis Figure 3 The procedure of implementing CLA to create the images of the future. 16 8

9 Table 1 Polak s categorization for the images of the future Influence Optimism Pessimism Optimism Essence optimistic - influence optimistic Essence optimistic - influence pessimistic Essence Pessimism Essence pessimistic - influence optimistic Essence pessimistic - influence pessimistic Conflicting images of the future Table 2 Approach of the images of the future towards the essence of the future and humans' ability to influence it. Living with the chill Fear and hope Life as a chance for dedication Imagine Pers onal Futu res Essence Influence and pessimism, more inclined toward optimism and pessimism and pessimism, more inclined toward optimism and pessimism, more inclined toward optimism Optimistic Optimistic Optimistic Apathetic Glob al Futu res Essence Pessimistic and pessimism, more inclined toward pessimism and pessimism, more inclined toward pessimism Optimistic Influence Pessimistic Optimistic Optimistic Apathetic 9

10 References Elo, S., & Kyngäs, H. (2007). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62 (1), Inayatullah, S. (2004). The Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) reader: Theory and case studies of an integrative and transformative methodology. Tamsui: Tamkang University Press. Johnson, J. M. (2001). In-depth Interviewing. In J. F. Gubrium, & J. A. Holstein (Eds.), Handbook of Interview Research: Context & Method. Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage Publication. McCracken, G. (1988). The long interview. Newbury Park: Sage. Polak, F. L. (1955/1973). The image of the future. (E. Boulding, Trans.). Amsterdam: Elsevier. Romero, E. F., Hauser, L. A., & Archer, D. D. (1985). Collective fantasy: A way of reaching the unconscious. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 12 (3), Rubin, A. (2000). Growing up in social transition: In search of late-modern identity. Doctoral dissertation. Turku: Turun Yliopisto. Rubin, A. (2013). Hidden, inconsistent, and influential: Images of the future in changing time. Futures, 45, S38-S

FORUM: QUALITATIVE SOCIAL RESEARCH SOZIALFORSCHUNG

FORUM: QUALITATIVE SOCIAL RESEARCH SOZIALFORSCHUNG Volume 5, No. 1, Art. 27 January 2004 Review: Mechthild Kiegelmann Melanie Mauthner, Maxine Birch, Julie Jessop & Tina Miller (Eds.) (2002). Ethics in