The real type and ideal type of transdisciplinary processes: part I—theoretical foundations

Abstract

Transdisciplinarity integrates or relates different epistemics from science and practice (Mode 2 transdisciplinarity) or from branches of disciplines if interdisciplinary integration is impossible (Mode 1 transdisciplinarity). The paper explains, based on an analysis of the historical development of the Mode 2 transdisciplinarity concept, how transdisciplinary processes link interdisciplinary applied research and multi-stakeholder discourses by facilitating methods. We elaborate on what type of problems may be managed using what knowledge, how this might be accomplished, what types of objectives are desired, and by what organizational means. Thus the paper presents ontology, epistemology, methodology, functionality, and organization of an ideal type of transdisciplinary process. Socially robust orientations are the expected outcomes of this process. These orientations provide science-based, state-of-the-art, socially accepted options of solutions which acknowledge uncertainties and the incompleteness of different forms of epistemics (i.e., of knowing or thought), in particular within the sustainable transitioning of complex real-world problems.

Unintended Side Effects of Digital Transition: Perspectives of Japanese Experts

“…We argue that the impacts of change can be assessed using the Sustainable Development Goals [28]; however, the roundtable focuses on science-based resilience assessment (see Figure 1). By transdisciplinarity, we refer to the integration of knowledge science and practice in projects that are (ideally) co-led by a legitimized decision maker and a scientist [29,30]. …”

Research In-between: The Constitutive Role of Cultural Differences in Transdisciplinarity

“…In this perspective, entities and identities related to research can no longer be considered exclusive and separated, but must be seen as embedded in a broader context that is constitutive for research. This has been highlighted by science studies (e.g., Latour [14] Research at the science -society interface is being developed in a series of academic fields under the label of transdisciplinarity, in particular in sustainability science (e.g., Lang [42]), health science (e.g., Stokols, Hall & Vogel [43]) and development studies (e.g., Novy & Howorka [44]), among others. However, we observe that a large community of scholars -in particular those who focus on the future of the earth -stick to a concept that only relies on scientific rationality and according quality criteria and rigor.…”

Transforming Well-Being in Wuppertal—Conditions and Constraints

“…Against this background, alternative methods of scientific knowledge production have been developed since the 1970s ( [1] p. 527). Initially introduced as a term for deepened interdisciplinarity in the 1970s, since the end of the 1990s the notion of transdisciplinarity is used to describe a research approach which includes non-scientific actors into the research process for the purpose of knowledge integration ( [2] p.…”

“…[95][96][97][98][99]. Transdisciplinary research aims to deal with complex problems, creating socially robust knowledge [6] and sustainable solutions to real-world problems [7] while simultaneously generating new scientific knowledge [1,[8][9][10]. Transdisciplinary approaches are especially dominant in sustainability research ( [11] p. 420), ([10] pp.…”

“…The co-led transdisciplinary process is characterised by mutual learning [14] and mutual understanding between stakeholders and scientists [1,8,10]. At the co-design stage, a common understanding of the problem is generated and system boundaries are defined.…”