METHODS article
Front. Sustain.
Sec. Circular Economy
Strengthening the Quality of Qualitative Models: A Quality Framework for Future-Oriented Sustainability Research
Provisionally accepted
- 1Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, United States
- 2Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Lyngby, Denmark
- 3International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Lund, Sweden
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Alternative Economic Models (AEMs) are theoretical frameworks that, if implemented, could fundamentally transform economic systems by aligning financial objectives with sustainability goals. Conducting rigorous research on future-oriented AEMs and other complex sustainability systems presents challenges, particularly due to the exploration of largely unverifiable future possibilities. Qualitative models can enhance the completeness, insights, and communications of such research. However, the absence of comprehensive guidelines for ensuring and assessing the quality of future-oriented qualitative models raises concerns about their reliability. The aim of this paper is to improve the quality of qualitative models used in future-and sustainability-focused AEM research by defining three key dimensions of model quality: (1) scientific validity; (2) scientific usefulness; and (3) practical usefulness. Drawing on diverse fields, including futures studies, modeling methodologies, and the philosophy of science, we identify eleven Model Quality Considerations (MQCs). These MQCs are tested and refined through two AEM model case applications. We propose a framework for model developers and evaluators to understand their roles and the interactions among MQCs. Our analysis reveals that some MQCs are inherently incompatible, making it impractical to fully satisfy all considerations in a single model. Instead, developing high-quality models requires strategically prioritizing quality aspects, based on the model's intended purpose. The paper concludes by outlining directions for future research.
Keywords: conceptual modeling, qualitative modeling method, framework, alternative economic model, alternative economic system, Futures studies
Received: 17 Aug 2025; Accepted: 12 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Svensson-Hoglund, Guzzo, Russell and Richter. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jessika Luth Richter, jessika.richter@iiiee.lu.se
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