Exploring Futures Consciousness Across Target Groups
Type of research: quantitative empirical
Description:
Futures Consciousness (FC) refers to the capacity to think about the future in a multidimensional way and to consciously align present choices with longer-term intentions (Ahvenharju et al., 2021). This includes five psychological dimensions: time perspective, agency beliefs, openness to alternatives, systems perception, and concern for others. Recent research suggests that this capacity supports both personal well-being and engagement with collective challenges such as sustainability and social justice.
In an earlier study, the Dutch version of the Futures Consciousness Scale was tested among employees of a national governance organization. Alongside this, the Watts Connectedness Scale (Watts et al., 2022) was used to examine how participants experienced a sense of connectedness to self, others, and the world — a factor that may shape how people orient themselves toward the future.
This thesis assignment builds on that initial study. The central aim is to explore how Futures Consciousness and connectedness manifest across different societal groups. You will design and conduct a comparative study that investigates one or more of the following questions:
- How does Futures Consciousness vary across target groups (e.g. professionals in education, healthcare, students, civil servants)?
- What patterns emerge in the relationship between FC and connectedness within these groups?
- To what extent are personal future perspectives embedded in, or disconnected from, broader societal imaginaries?
You will be invited to reflect critically on the use and interpretation of the FC and Watts scales, and to explore what the findings suggest for interventions that aim to foster more future-oriented thinking and acting — whether in policy, education, or organizational development.
Who are we looking for?
Students who are:
- interested in the topic of Futures Consciousness
- motivated to conduct a quantitative study and collect their own data