Toward a Science of Transdisciplinary Action Research

Abstract

This paper offers a conceptual framework for establishing a science of transdisciplinary action research. Lewin's (1951) concept of action research highlights the scientific and societal value of translating psychological research into community problem-solving strategies. Implicit in Lewin's formulation is the importance of achieving effective collaboration among behavioral researchers, community members and policy makers. The present analysis builds on Lewin's analysis by outlining programmatic directions for the scientific study of transdisciplinary research and community action. Three types of collaboration, and the contextual circumstances that facilitate or hinder them, are examined: (1) collaboration among scholars representing different disciplines; (2) collaboration among researchers from multiple fields and community practitioners representing diverse professional and lay perspectives; and (3) collaboration among community organizations across local, state, national, and international levels. In the present analysis, transdisciplinary action research is viewed as a topic of scientific study in its own right to achieve a more complete understanding of prior collaborations and to identify strategies for refining and sustaining future collaborations (and their intended outcomes) among researchers, community members and organizations.

Studying and Addressing Urban Immigrant Restaurant Worker Health and Safety in San Francisco’s Chinatown District: A CBPR Case Study

“…An example of what Stokols 24 refers to as a transdisciplinary collaboration between community practitioners and scientific researchers, this and other CBPR case studies add to our understanding of how such collaborative efforts operate and translate scientific findings into community-problem solving strategies within urban immigrant populations. 24 We present several key lessons learned and their implications for research, policy, and practice. The involvement of multiple stakeholders, including, where possible, a strong and respected community partner with deep roots in the urban immigrant community of concern, can lay important groundwork for success.…”

“…24 Partners included a community-based organization, the Chinese Progressive Association of San Francisco (CPA); two universities (the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health and its Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP), and the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine); and the Occupational and Environmental Health Section of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). Nine immigrant restaurant worker partners were hired and extensively trained in worker health, participatory research, survey methods, public speaking, and other areas important to the action phases that followed the research.…”

“…Not infrequently in CBPR and related approaches, community partners may wish to move more quickly from preliminary findings to action, including advocating for changes in programs, practices, and policies, while academically trained research partners may wish to move more slowly, insuring the accuracy of any findings put forward and in some cases, waiting for peer review. 24 Conversely, findings may emerge which could cast the community in an unfavorable light which community partners do not want to have "go public". 41 As others have described, 18,24,[42][43][44] continued dialogue and MOUs may be helpful in anticipating such "what ifs" and deciding on ways to deal with them early on.…”

“…24 Conversely, findings may emerge which could cast the community in an unfavorable light which community partners do not want to have "go public". 41 As others have described, 18,24,[42][43][44] continued dialogue and MOUs may be helpful in anticipating such "what ifs" and deciding on ways to deal with them early on. Such methods are not likely to preclude all unanticipated issues from arising which require the utmost care as they are addressed.…”

Measuring Collaboration and Transdisciplinary Integration in Team Science

“…This trend toward greater teamwork in science is paralleled by a growing emphasis on crossdisciplinary approaches to research and training. [5][6][7] Substantial investments by government agencies and private foundations in cross-disciplinary centers and teams have triggered a lively debate about the relative merits of individual-versus-team-based models of research and the emergence of a new area of program evaluation research, namely, the science of team science. 8 -11 Evaluations of team science initiatives aim to identify, measure, and understand the processes and outcomes of large-scale research collaborations.…”