How input, process, and institutional factors influence the effects of transdisciplinary research projects
Rea Pärli
Abstract
Transdisciplinary research projects integrate several disciplines and practice stakeholders into the research process. Both of these interactions are described as important in addressing complex and interconnected sustainability problems. In addition to knowledge generation, transdisciplinary research projects have other effects. For example, they may facilitate the adoption of solutions, whereas traditional research projects focus on the presentation of results. However, there is considerable diversity in transdisciplinary research projects in terms of their design, research process, and surrounding institutions, making it difficult to unravel what type of transdisciplinary research project works well to reach which effects. This article uses a systematic literature review and expert interviews to study how different input, process, and institutional factors influence the effects of transdisciplinary research projects. The results show that process factors, such as the quality of the process or the specific methods used, have the strongest influence on the effects of transdisciplinary projects, whereas institutional factors are less prominent. Furthermore, different factors influence not only the effects but also each other and are thus interconnected.