Jointly Experimenting for Transformation? Shaping Real-World Laboratories by Comparing Them

Abstract

Various experimental approaches of transformative research in real-world settings have emerged. Yet, similarities, differences, and specific contributions remain unclear. A characteristic-based comparison reveals complementarities and provides orientation.Real-world laboratories (RwLs, German Reallabore) belong to a family of increasingly popular experimental and transdisciplinary research approaches at the science-society interface. As these approaches in general, and RwLs in particular, often lack clear definitions of key characteristics and their operationalization, we make two contributions in this article. First, we identify five core characteristics of RwLs: contribution to transformation, experimental methods, transdisciplinary research mode, scalability and transferability of results, as well as scientific and societal learning and reflexivity. Second, we compare RwLs to similar research approaches according to the five characteristics. In this way, we provide an orientation on experimental and transdisciplinary research for societal transformations, and reveal the contributions of this type of research in supporting societal change. Our findings enable learning across the different approaches and highlight their complementarities, with a particular focus on RwLs.

Transformative spaces in the making: key lessons from nine cases in the Global South

“…In part, these approaches are a reaction to the challenges of fast changing complex systems, but the result is that the role of the researcher solely as a provider of knowledge becomes increasingly blurred (Milkoreit et al 2015;Wittmayer and Schäpke 2014). While researchers arguably have always been more than only knowledge providers, the interest of research in the application of that knowledge, and in the outcomes and impacts that arise from spaces facilitated by researchers-like stronger networks, actionable plans and policy interventions-is a more recent phenomenon (see for e.g., Frantzeskaki et al 2014;Wittmayer and Schäpke 2014;Luederitz et al 2017;Schäpke et al 2018). This research that elucidates the complex dynamics of researchers as knowledge providers stems predominantly from the Global North.…”

The State of Experimental Research on Community Interventions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions—A Systematic Review

“…We recognize that concepts such as Real-world Labs [46], Sustainable LivingLabs [47] and Urban Transition Labs [48] include several ambitions that are in line with our reasoning on multi-sector community research, including the importance of transdisciplinarity, local involvement and science-practice integration [49]. However, despite the frequent use of the word "experiment" in the referenced articles, none of them refer to experimental designs to evaluate the effects of the interventions.…”

Structured Collaboration Across a Transformative Knowledge Network—Learning Across Disciplines, Cultures and Contexts?

“…Instead, we adopted the overall approach of 'T-Labs,' around which different hubs could experiment with different methods for research and engagement. T-Labs (shorthand for Transformations laboratories) were first experimented with in the run-up to the Transformations2015 conference hosted by Stockholm Resilience Centre and are one of the panoply of strategic approaches to enable or unleash systemic change through experimentation [38,39] in 'labs' [21]. Other concepts include transition labs [40], social labs [41], social innovation labs [42], living labs [43,44] or real-world labs [45].…”

“…However, the different disciplinary, institutional and socio-cultural contexts in which the research was conducted required that-rather than attempting to roll out universal guidelines-the teams explored their practical applicability in each hub. The approach adopted in this regard was the "transformation laboratory" or T-Lab, discussed in greater detail below and defined as a process involving research and transdisciplinary engagement to address complex social-ecological problems or challenges [20,21]. The Pathways Network recognized that the extent to which science can be reconfigured is political and differently constrained in the different geographies where the T-Labs were implemented.…”