Methodological challenges of transdisciplinary research

Pohl, Christian; Hadorn, Gertrude Hirsch

doi:10.1051/nss:2008035

Cited by 245 publications

(207 citation statements)

References 47 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…Importantly, these three challenges are interrelated and value-laden (Cash et al, 2003;Funtowicz and Ravetz, 1993;Pohl and Hirsch Hadorn, 2007). A certain causal understanding of a problem may favour some problem solving means over others, and this may in turn serve some stakeholders better than others.…”

Section: A Theoretical Framework For the Analysis Of The Effectivenesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hirsch Hadorn, 2003;Pohl and Hirsch Hadorn, 2007), integration and implementation sciences (Bammer, 2005), Mode 2 knowledge production (Nowotny et al, 2001), post-normal science (Funtowicz and Ravetz, 1993), socio-ecological research (Becker, 2002;Becker and Jahn, 2006), and effective knowledge systems (Cash et al, 2003). While some of these scholars have attempted to developed novel scientific concepts for particular thematic research fields, e.g.…”

Section: A Theoretical Framework For the Analysis Of The Effectivenesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A major challenge of much environmental problem solving is that often facts are highly uncertain, and conflicts of interests and values are prominent in the problem-solving context (post-normal situations sensu Funtowicz and Ravetz (1993)). In such post-normal situations facts and values are closely entangled -for instance scientific advice may be deliberately produced to support the views of particular stakeholders (Pielke Jr, 2002), and the effectiveness of science depends on the capacity of the existing institutions to implement the proposed measures (Pohl and Hirsch Hadorn, 2007). Therefore the effectiveness of problem solving strategies depends simultaneously on three factors: a scientifically adequate understanding of the causal relations relevant to the problem (credibility), an adequate treatment of stakeholders' interests and values during the research and problem-solving process (legitimacy), and an adequate design of problem-solving practices that take into consideration the constraints and options of the implementing actors (relevance) (Bocking, 2004;Cash et al, 2003;Pohl and Hirsch Hadorn, 2007).…”

Section: A Theoretical Framework For the Analysis Of The Effectivenesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…But so far most theoretical thinking has focused on adapting research on the level of individual research projects or programmes , while the methodological implications of attempting effective science on the level of a whole research field have rarely been considered. We propose in the following a framework, derived from design principles for transdisciplinary research projects compiled by Pohl and Hirsch Hadorn (2007), that facilitates the analysis of the problem-orientation of research fields, and helps to design effective problem-oriented research. A major challenge of much environmental problem solving is that often facts are highly uncertain, and conflicts of interests and values are prominent in the problem-solving context (post-normal situations sensu Funtowicz and Ravetz (1993)).…”

Section: A Theoretical Framework For the Analysis Of The Effectivenesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We present in this article a theoretical framework that facilitates the analysis of the problem-orientation of research fields, and helps to design more effective problem-oriented research. Our theoretical framework is based on scholarship that developed over the past few decades among theoreticians and practitioners of problem-oriented research (Bammer, 2005;Cash et al, 2003;Hirsch Hadorn, 2003;Klein et al, 2001;Nowotny et al, 2001;Pohl and Hirsch Hadorn, 2007). In the second part of the article we apply the proposed framework to a concrete example of a problem-oriented landscape research field -namely research on biotic invasions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How to Achieve Effectiveness in Problem-Oriented Landscape Research: The Example of Research on Biotic Invasions

Kueffer¹,

Hadorn²

2008

Living Rev. Landscape Res.

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It is increasingly expected from environmental research such as landscape research that science directly contributes to the solving of pressing societal problems. However, despite increased efforts to direct research towards societal problems, it is not obvious if science has become more effective in supporting environmental problem-solving. We present in this article a framework that facilitates the analysis and design of problem-orientation in research fields. We then apply the proposed framework to a concrete example of a problem-oriented landscape research field -namely research on biotic invasions. Invasion research addresses the problem that some organisms, that have been introduced by humans to a new geographic area where they were previously not present, spread in the landscape and pose negative impacts.We argue that problem-oriented research is more than applied research. Besides research on specific questions it also encompasses boundary management, i.e., deliberations among experts and stakeholders on the framing of adequate research questions about processes, values and practices for effective problem-solving. We postulate that such research may assist problem-solving in three ways, by analysing causal relationships (systems knowledge), clarifying conflicts of interests and values (target knowledge), or contributing to the development of appropriate means for action (transformation knowledge).We show that over the past decades a broad range of different research approaches has emerged in the young field of invasion research in order to produce systems, target and transformation knowledge for invasive species management. Early research in the field was dominated by the development of systems knowledge, but increasingly the three knowledge forms are Boundary management in invasion research is mainly restricted to informal networks (communities of practice), while formal processes such as transdisciplinary research are scarce. We suggest that the paucity of structured and explicit boundary management processes will limit the future development of a more effective science for invasive species management. In particular, we envisage three obstacles that can only be removed through explicit boundary management. First, the existing theoretical frameworks are currently only partly able to integrate natural and social sciences research on the processes underlying invasions. Second, a clarification of the normative thinking about alien plant invasions is needed. Third, research on transformation knowledge has so far not fundamentally challenged the existing conceptual framing and institutional setup of invasive species management.

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Section: A Theoretical Framework For the Analysis Of The Effectivenesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Theoretical Framework For the Analysis Of The Effectivenesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Theoretical Framework For the Analysis Of The Effectivenesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Theoretical Framework For the Analysis Of The Effectivenesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

How to Achieve Effectiveness in Problem-Oriented Landscape Research: The Example of Research on Biotic Invasions

Kueffer¹,

Hadorn²

2008

Living Rev. Landscape Res.

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Challenges to link climate change data provision and user needs: Perspective from the COST‐action VALUE

Rößler

Fischer

Huebener

et al. 2017

Intl Journal of Climatology

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The application of climate change impact assessment (CCIA) studies in general and especially the linkages between different actor groups typically involved is often not trivial and subject to many limitations and uncertainties. Disciplinary issues like competing downscaling approaches, imperfect climate and impact model data and uncertainty propagation as well as the selection of appropriate data sets are only one part of the story. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary challenges add to these, as climate data and impact model data provision and their usage require at least a minimum of common work and shared understanding among actors. Here, we provide the VALUE perspective on current disciplinary challenges and limitations at the downscaling interface and elaborate transdisciplinary issues that hamper a proper working downscaling interface. The perspective is partly based on a survey on user needs of downscaled data that was distributed among 62 participants across Europe involving 22 sectors. Partly, it is based on the exchanges and experiences gained during the lifetime of VALUE that brought together different actor groups of different disciplines: climate modellers, impact modellers, statisticians and stakeholders. We outline a sketch that summarizes the linkages between the main identified actor groups: climate model data providers, impact modellers and societal users. We summarize review and structure current actors groups, needs and issues. We argue that this structuring enables involved actors to tackle these issues in a more organized and hence effective way. A key solution to several difficulties at the downscaling interface is to our understanding the development of guidelines based on benchmark tests like the VALUE framework. In addition, fostering communication between actor groups—and financing this communication—is essential to obtain the best possible CCIA as a prerequisite for robust adaptation.

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Interdisciplinarity: A complexity approach towards academic research

et al. 2021

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Placing the issue of interdisciplinarity within a complexity framework, the current paper aims to explore different facets of interdisciplinary research (IDR). The theoretical and empirical analysis revolves around the main factors influencing IDR abilities and achievements, that is, the propelling context, attitude and further awareness of thinking and acting across boundaries in order to reach viable solutions to complex problems. On purpose to test the inferred relationships, the study relies on a questionnaire‐based survey conducted with 214 early‐career researchers from interdisciplinary departments or enrolled in interdisciplinary projects. The findings revealed that both attitude and context are important for rising researchers' awareness, in forming their abilities and reporting interdisciplinary achievements, the structural model explaining 51.9% in the variation of interdisciplinary research abilities and 17.1% in the variation of the researchers' interdisciplinary outcomes.

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Methodological challenges of transdisciplinary research

Cited by 245 publications

References 47 publications

How to Achieve Effectiveness in Problem-Oriented Landscape Research: The Example of Research on Biotic Invasions

How to Achieve Effectiveness in Problem-Oriented Landscape Research: The Example of Research on Biotic Invasions

Challenges to link climate change data provision and user needs: Perspective from the COST‐action VALUE

Interdisciplinarity: A complexity approach towards academic research

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