Technology Assessment: As Science and as a Tool for Policy

It is argued that there is an increasing societal need for social assessment of the consequences of technology. Technology assessment will therefore become a growing field of research in which sociologists will also be involved. The fact that these assessments are meant to form part of the political decision-making processes, will make special demands on the way in which technology assessment is organized. Especially via governmental trade and technology policy, technology assessment may possibly influence the decisions of firms. Public participation is considered a necessity for the real importance of technology assessments.