Beginning at the end: The outcome spaces framework to guide purposive transdisciplinary research

Mitchell, Cynthia; Cordell, Dana; Fam, Dena

doi:10.1016/j.futures.2014.10.007

Cited by 151 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The underlying process of knowledge distribution and management is of key interest; both for scientists who wish to connect with practice, for practitioners who benefit from science, and for (academic) teaching. Along with the broader ongoing discourse and the growing popularity of TDR, there is a vivid academic discussion on establishing a common TDR framework [8,12,15,17,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

Section: Establishing a Common Transdisciplinary Research (Tdr) Framementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The systemic integration of reflexive processes in such frameworks seems to be an aspect of outstanding importance [18]. A TDR "outcome spaces framework" is proposed using a back-casting approach that begins at the end, or in the future, to draw a picture of where we want to be at a defined point in time [26]. The TDR framework proposed by [15] is described by five focal areas (inclusion, collaboration, integration, usability, reflexibility) and three phases (formulate, generate, evaluate), where reflexive processes and integration occupy an important role.…”

Section: Establishing a Common Transdisciplinary Research (Tdr) Framementioning

confidence: 99%

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Success in Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research

Luthe

2017

Sustainability

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Abstract:The complexity of sustainable development and societal transitions require both analytical understandings of how coupled human-environment systems function and transdisciplinary science-to-practice approaches. The academic discourse has advanced in developing a framework for defining success in transdisciplinary research (TDR). Further empirical evidence is needed to validate the proposed concepts with TDR case studies. This paper applies a widely used TDR framework to test and critically evaluate its design principles and criteria of success with five TDR case studies the author is intimately familiar with. Overall, the design principles of the framework are validated for the five cases. Additional design principles are derived from the case analysis and proposed to complement the applied framework: (1) A project origin from society as opposed to with and for society; (2) Quickly available initiation funding; (3) Flexibility in time, objectives and methods throughout the research process; (4) Acceptance of process vs. project results; (5) Inclusion of public science communication; and (6) A demand-driven transition to a prolonged or new project partnership. The complementing principles are proposed for integration in the applied framework and are subject to further empirical testing. The reflexive empirical approach I have taken in this paper offers a key step towards removing institutional barriers for successful TDR, demonstrating how conceptual frameworks can be applied.

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Section: Establishing a Common Transdisciplinary Research (Tdr) Framementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Establishing a Common Transdisciplinary Research (Tdr) Framementioning

confidence: 99%

Success in Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research

Luthe

2017

Sustainability

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“…From this observation, we learned that it is better to invite workshop participants with similar positions in order to hear all the participants equally. Finding ways to improve such situations requires patience and a deep and reflexive appreciation of how change happens and the roles of researchers and practitioners (Mitchell et al, 2015). As Popa et al (2015) summarised, transdisciplinary research would benefit from adopting a pragmatic approach to reflexivity, with a collective process through joint experimentation and social learning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Triangulation in participation: Dynamic approaches for science-practice interaction in land-use decision making in rural China

2018

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A B S T R A C TLand use decision making requires knowledge integration from a wide range of stakeholders across science and practice. Many participatory methods and instruments aiming at such science-practice interaction have been developed during the last decades. However, there are methodological challenges, and little evidence neither about the methodological applicability and practicability under diverse socio-political conditions nor about their dynamics. The objective of this paper is to offer some insights on the design and implementation of reasonable science-practice interaction. The Chinese-German project SURUMER (Sustainable rubber cultivation in the Mekong region) served as a case study with the aim of developing sustainable land use strategies for rubber cultivation in southwest China. A triangulation of methods tailor-made for every specific stakeholder group allows the gradual deepening and broadening of participation in problem definition, knowledge generation, development of applicable solutions and implementation. The composition of methods should be reflected on and adjusted to the communication demands of specific stakeholder groups during project phases. It is important to invest in trust-building and allow time and space for the adaptation of approaches, especially in communities where participation is not a tradition.

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“…Readers will have noticed affinities with post-normal science (Functowicz & Ravetz, 1993), with Mode 2 knowledge production (Gibbons et al, 1994;Nowotny et al, 2001 and2003), with action research (Argyris et al, 1985), with some understandings of transdisciplinarity (Bammer, 2012;Brown et al, 2010;Hirsh Hadorn et al, 2010;Mitchell et al, 2015), with philosophical pragmatism (Dewey, 2004;Kitcher, 2012;Rorty, 1999), with positions that are critical towards scientistic and reductionistic understandings of rationality and method (Toulmin, 2001;Flyvbjerg, 1993 and2001;Scott, 1998). The concept closer to practical integration is that of 'translational integration' proposed by Sabina Leonelli (2013, see in particular pp.…”

Section: What Is Distinctive About Practical Integration and The Vik mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scott, 1998, ch. 10;Stirling, 2010;Mitchell et al, 2015). These criteria are hard to reduce to formalized methods and clearly imbued with a variety of social values.…”

Section: What Is Distinctive About Practical Integration and The Vik mentioning

confidence: 99%

Practical integration: The art of balancing values, institutions and knowledge – lessons from the History of British Public Health and Town Planning

Grandis

2016

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in

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The paper uses two historical examples, public health (1840-1880) and town planning in Britain, to analyse the challenges faced by goal-driven research, an increasingly important trend in science policy, as exemplified by the prominence of calls for addressing Grand Challenges. Two key points are argued. (1) Given that the aim of research addressing social or global problems is to contribute to improving things, this research should include all the steps necessary to bring science and technology to fruition. This need is captured by the idea of practical integration, which brings this type of research under the umbrella of collective practical reason rather than under the aegis of science. Achieving practical integration is difficult for many reasons: the complexity of social needs, the plurality of values at stake, the limitation of our knowledge, the elusive nature of the skills needed to deal with uncertainty, incomplete information and asymmetries of power. Nevertheless, drawing from the lessons of the case studies, it is argued that (2) practical integration needs a proper balance between values, institutions and knowledge: i.e. a combination of mutual support and mutual limitation. Pursuing such a balance provides a flexible strategy for approximating practical integration. Research for policy-making and practical actionis inevitably conducted in a political context. If research is to be 'useful' it must relate to the art of the possible (Pahl 1975, p. 5) the stakes here are not to make sciences 'progress', but to raise to the challenges facing society (Stengers 2002, p. 98)

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Beginning at the end: The outcome spaces framework to guide purposive transdisciplinary research

Cited by 151 publications

References 31 publications

Success in Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research

Success in Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research

Triangulation in participation: Dynamic approaches for science-practice interaction in land-use decision making in rural China

Practical integration: The art of balancing values, institutions and knowledge – lessons from the History of British Public Health and Town Planning

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