Sistema, princípios e práticas:

considerações sobre os Estudos de Tendências

Abstract

It is considered a new field of research still underdeveloped as a practice, thus resulting in uncertainties about the concept on what concerns the plurality of theoretical foundations, systematization of conceptual models and well-known authors’ assumptions in the area. The potential of the Trend Studies stems from the ability to sort out the structural principles that guide the changes in human behavior patterns and from translating this knowledge into signs that may give rise to innovation or sound strategies for new policies, products, and services. For this reason, this work consists of fundamental research in addition to presenting a review of the literature and considerations on Trends Studies state of art – outcome of the current conceptual development in this disciplinary field in joint research carried out in Portugal and Brazil. Transdisciplinarity is noticed to be the basis of the Trends Studies andthe leading axle of fundamental disciplines that guide the observation, the analysis and the monitoring of socio-cultural behavior patterns.