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Social Learning and Transdisciplinary Co-Production: A Social Practice Approach

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  • Kimberley Slater

    (Department of Geography, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada)

  • John Robinson

    (Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3K7, Canada)

Abstract

To address the challenge of achieving social learning in support of transformative change to sustainability, this paper develops an analytical framework that applies a social practice theory (SPT) lens to illuminate the constituent elements and dynamics of social learning in the context of transdisciplinary coproduction for sustainability transitions. Adopting an SPT approach affords a means of interpreting concrete practices at the local scale and exploring the potential for scaling them up. This framework is then applied to a real-world case at the urban neighbourhood scale in order to illustrate how social learning unfolded in a grassroots transdisciplinary coproduction process focused on climate action. We find that a social practice perspective illuminates the material and nonmaterial dimensions of the relationship between social learning and transdisciplinary coproduction. In decoupling these properties from individual human agency, the SPT perspective affords a means of tracing their emergence among social actors, generating a deeper understanding of how social learning arises and effects change, and sustainability can be reinforced.

Suggested Citation

  • Kimberley Slater & John Robinson, 2020. "Social Learning and Transdisciplinary Co-Production: A Social Practice Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-16, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7511-:d:412384
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Robinson & James Tansey, 2006. "Co-production, emergent properties and strong interactive social research: the Georgia Basin Futures Project," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 33(2), pages 151-160, March.
    2. Popa, Simona & Soto-Acosta, Pedro & Martinez-Conesa, Isabel, 2017. "Antecedents, moderators, and outcomes of innovation climate and open innovation: An empirical study in SMEs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 134-142.
    3. Robinson, John, 2004. "Squaring the circle? Some thoughts on the idea of sustainable development," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 369-384, April.
    4. Ison, Ray & Blackmore, Chris & Iaquinto, Benjamin L., 2013. "Towards systemic and adaptive governance: Exploring the revealing and concealing aspects of contemporary social-learning metaphors," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 34-42.
    5. Chris Caswill & Elizabeth Shove, 2000. "Introducing interactive social science," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 27(3), pages 154-157, June.
    6. Markard, Jochen & Raven, Rob & Truffer, Bernhard, 2012. "Sustainability transitions: An emerging field of research and its prospects," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 955-967.
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