Exploring transdisciplinary research methodologies' dilemmas and consequences: A comparative analysis

The importance of transdisciplinary (TD) research for finding solutions to real-world issues is increasingly acknowledged within sustainability science. Inter-connectedness between real-world issues and the researchers’... [ view full abstract ]

The importance of transdisciplinary (TD) research for finding solutions to real-world issues is increasingly acknowledged within sustainability science. Inter-connectedness between real-world issues and the researchers’ engagement in finding or designing practical solutions, calls for a rather exploratory and collaborative approach than analytical and individual one. The knowledge production within TD exploratory research is context dependent and demands a pluralistic epistemology, leaving to researcher the freedom of choice in adopting specific methodologies for specific cases. However, the motivation behind our study is that dilemmas and consequences linked to specific methodologies can be translated to other contexts. The study aims at exploring the transdisciplinary research methodologies’ dilemmas and consequences through a comparative analysis between two longitudinal exploratory case studies based on TD research. One case was aiming at increasing corporate sustainability in Norway and the second, at increasing regional, inter-corporate sustainability in Denmark. The analysis of the exploratory research methodologies has showed that research methodologies such as interactive workshops, bootcamps, interviews, active and passive observations used within the two cases present similarities, differences, but also reach lessons learned, leaving several dilemmas to discussion. Dilemmas, among others collaborative knowledge production, practitioner’s empowerment and the researcher’s role, and their consequences are identified and discussed through the study. By doing this, we hope to provide inspiration and food for thought to other researchers and practitioners, and to start a more in-depth discussion on TD research dilemmas and their consequences for both knowledge creation and real-world solutions.

Keywords: Transdisciplinary research; methodologies, dilemmas and consequences; researcher’s role; collaborative knowledge production.