IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v30y2022i2p326-342.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The challenging role of researchers coping with tensions, dilemmas and paradoxes in transdisciplinary settings

Author

Listed:
  • Marlen Gabriele Arnold

Abstract

Transdisciplinary learning is a response to address the comprehensive sustainability competencies for implementing the 17 sustainability goals of the Agenda 2030. Transdisciplinary contexts include socially distributed knowledge beyond scientific boundaries. This impacts the whole design process and specific tasks and roles of the researchers. Addressing the questions, “Which typical tensions, dilemmas and paradoxes need to be faced by researches in transdisciplinary settings?”, and “How does the role of the researchers change and goes beyond traditional research settings when operating in transdisciplinary settings surrounded by tensions, dilemmas and paradoxes?”, answers will be provided following existing analytical frameworks of transdisciplinary research design. Based on own experiences with and including observations of transdisciplinary settings at academia, transdisciplinary research and lecture settings will be analysed and compared by transdisciplinary criteria. Results show, in transdisciplinary settings, researchers or lecturers are more engaged with addressing poly‐contextuality, the consciousness of the innovation paradoxes and the side‐effects of ongoing interdependences. They take up multiple roles and have to deal with role ambiguity. Transdisciplinary lecture settings are even more demanding as they also have to meet the mentor role or maintain the students' learning progress.

Suggested Citation

  • Marlen Gabriele Arnold, 2022. "The challenging role of researchers coping with tensions, dilemmas and paradoxes in transdisciplinary settings," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 326-342, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:30:y:2022:i:2:p:326-342
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.2277
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2277
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.2277?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jahn, Thomas & Bergmann, Matthias & Keil, Florian, 2012. "Transdisciplinarity: Between mainstreaming and marginalization," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-10.
    2. Brian M. Belcher & Katherine E. Rasmussen & Matthew R. Kemshaw & Deborah A. Zornes, 2016. "Defining and assessing research quality in a transdisciplinary context," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(1), pages 1-17.
    3. Wamsler, Christine, 2017. "Stakeholder involvement in strategic adaptation planning: Transdisciplinarity and co-production at stake?," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 148-157.
    4. Martin Stack & Myles P. Gartland, 2003. "Path Creation, Path Dependency, and Alternative Theories of the Firm," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 487-494, June.
    5. Elina Jaakkola, 2020. "Designing conceptual articles: four approaches," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 10(1), pages 18-26, June.
    6. Schneidewind, Uwe & Singer-Brodowski, Mandy & Augenstein, Karoline & Stelzer, Franziska, 2016. "Pledge for a transformative science: A conceptual framework," Wuppertal Papers 191, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jasmina Saric & Thomas Breu & Gilbert Fokou & Salome‐Joëlle Gass & Boniface Kiteme & Honorati Masanja & Jürg Utzinger & Gete Zeleke & Fabian Käser, 2023. "Research−implementation organisations and their role for sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1401-1416, June.
    2. Sarah Cummings & Charles Dhewa & Gladys Kemboi & Stacey Young, 2023. "Doing epistemic justice in sustainable development: Applying the philosophical concept of epistemic injustice to the real world," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1965-1977, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Stephanie Jahn & Jens Newig & Daniel J. Lang & Judith Kahle & Matthias Bergmann, 2022. "Demarcating transdisciplinary research in sustainability science—Five clusters of research modes based on evidence from 59 research projects," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 343-357, April.
    2. Flurina Schneider & Zarina Patel & Katsia Paulavets & Tobias Buser & Jacqueline Kado & Stefanie Burkhart, 2023. "Fostering transdisciplinary research for sustainability in the Global South: Pathways to impact for funding programmes," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Ingrid Kofler, 2023. "Beyond Disciplinary Constraints: Designing Transdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Real-World Laboratories," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Michael Rose & Katharina Schleicher & Katrin Maibaum, 2017. "Transforming Well-Being in Wuppertal—Conditions and Constraints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-27, December.
    5. Schäpke, Niko & Stelzer, Franziska & Bergmann, Matthias & Singer-Brodowski, Mandy & Wanner, Matthias & Caniglia, Guido & Lang, Daniel J., 2017. "Reallabore im Kontext transformativer Forschung: Ansatzpunkte zur Konzeption und Einbettung in den internationalen Forschungsstand," EconStor Preprints 168596, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    6. Marina Knickel & Karlheinz Knickel & Francesca Galli & Damian Maye & Johannes S. C. Wiskerke, 2019. "Towards a Reflexive Framework for Fostering Co—Learning and Improvement of Transdisciplinary Collaboration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-22, November.
    7. Jana Zscheischler & Sebastian Rogga & Maria Busse, 2017. "The Adoption and Implementation of Transdisciplinary Research in the Field of Land-Use Science—A Comparative Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-20, October.
    8. Leonhard Hennen & Jürgen Kopfmüller & Maria Maia & Linda Nierling & Constanze Scherz, 2023. "Ways towards Transformation—Conceptual Approaches and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-27, October.
    9. Stefan Liehr & Julia Röhrig & Marion Mehring & Thomas Kluge, 2017. "How the Social-Ecological Systems Concept Can Guide Transdisciplinary Research and Implementation: Addressing Water Challenges in Central Northern Namibia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-19, June.
    10. Shiji Chen & Clément Arsenault & Yves Gingras & Vincent Larivière, 2015. "Exploring the interdisciplinary evolution of a discipline: the case of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 102(2), pages 1307-1323, February.
    11. Xiaoran Zheng & Yuzhuo Cai, 2022. "Transforming Innovation Systems into Innovation Ecosystems: The Role of Public Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
    12. Adams, Clare & Frantzeskaki, Niki & Moglia, Magnus, 2023. "Mainstreaming nature-based solutions in cities: A systematic literature review and a proposal for facilitating urban transitions," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    13. Martin Ricker, 2017. "Letter to the Editor: About the quality and impact of scientific articles," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 111(3), pages 1851-1855, June.
    14. Nomfundo Sibiya & Mikateko Sithole & Lindelani Mudau & Mulala Danny Simatele, 2022. "Empowering the Voiceless: Securing the Participation of Marginalised Groups in Climate Change Governance in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    15. Wang, Chun-Ju & Wu, Lei-Yu, 2012. "Team member commitments and start-up competitiveness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(5), pages 708-715.
    16. Nicolás Ruiz, Néstor & Suárez Alonso, María Luisa & Vidal-Abarca, María Rosario, 2021. "Contributions of dry rivers to human well-being: A global review for future research," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    17. Ranger, S. & Kenter, J.O. & Bryce, R. & Cumming, G. & Dapling, T. & Lawes, E. & Richardson, P.B., 2016. "Forming shared values in conservation management: An interpretive-deliberative-democratic approach to including community voices," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(PB), pages 344-357.
    18. Juerges, Nataly & Jahn, Stephanie, 2020. "German forest management stakeholders at the science-society interface: Their views on problem definition, knowledge production and research utilization," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    19. Eastwood, C.R. & Turner, F.J. & Romera, A.J., 2022. "Farmer-centred design: An affordances-based framework for identifying processes that facilitate farmers as co-designers in addressing complex agricultural challenges," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    20. Arora-Jonsson, Seema, 2016. "Does resilience have a culture? Ecocultures and the politics of knowledge production," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 98-107.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:30:y:2022:i:2:p:326-342. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.