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Possibility

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Possibility Studies concerns itself with the triggers, processes, and outcomes of engaging with the possible at psychological, material, technological, sociocultural, and political levels. It provides a wide, interdisciplinary umbrella for a series of either well-established or more recent fields of research including creativity and innovation, imagination and mental simulation, serendipity and chance encounters, play, counterfactual thinking, future studies and utopian thinking. ​ Rather than replacing these established domains, Possibility Studies offers an integrative framework that examines their interconnections and shared foundations. It investigates how possibilities are conceived, evaluated, selected, and realized across diverse contexts—from individual cognition to collective action, from artistic expression to technological innovation, from educational practices to policy development.

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As a founding member of the Possibility Studies Network, I serve on the executive committee of the Possibility Studies Network, helping to establish and grow this emerging field. Additionally, I hold the position of Associate Managing Editor for Possibility Studies and Society, the first academic journal dedicated specifically to this interdisciplinary domain. Through these roles, I contribute to shaping the intellectual foundation and organizational infrastructure of Possibility Studies.

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My research program within Possibility Studies focuses on developing robust quantitative approaches to understanding how individuals and groups engage with possibilities. Key aspects of this work include:

I am currently developing new methodological approaches for studying possibility engagement, including and I am working toward greater theoretical integration across the diverse disciplines that contribute to Possibility Studies, developing conceptual frameworks that connect micro-level cognitive processes with macro-level social dynamics​ and integrate embodied, embedded, and extended perspectives on Possibility​

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Collaborations and Community

The advancement of Possibility Studies depends on vibrant interdisciplinary collaborations. I actively collaborate with researchers across psychology, philosophy, education, design, organizational studies, and other fields. The Possibility Studies Network serves as a hub for these collaborations, hosting conferences, workshops, and publication initiatives.

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Through my work in Possibility Studies, I aim to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of how humans navigate the space of possibilities and how this capacity can be cultivated to address complex challenges in a rapidly changing world.

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Read the journal

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The Possibility Thinking Scale

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My writing on Possibility Studies

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Find out about the network

©2018 by Wendy Ross. Proudly created with Wix.com

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