Transdisciplinarity and the operationalization of scientific knowledge

Transdisciplinary research can take many forms and may arise without the researcher’s awareness. However, since the 1970s—in the wake of a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)—several research projects have explicitly adopted this approach. This book examines the epistemological, methodological, and organizational challenges of this type of research. While transdisciplinarity is not always associated with the involvement of non-academic actors in the co-construction of knowledge, the presence of multiple disciplines is widely recognized. Consequently, the concepts of multi-, inter-, pluri-, and circumdisciplinarity are used interchangeably. Issues of institutional recognition and modes of interaction (temporal and spatial) arise for both researchers and non-academic actors. On the one hand, the book includes theoretical texts by researchers from a wide variety of disciplines; on the other hand, it presents case studies detailing experiments in partnership-based research involving research organizations, social intervention agencies, or strategic networks. This book stands out by addressing both the idealistic and critical perspectives on transdisciplinarity. It will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, and students working in the fields of sustainable development, health, the social economy, or the sociology of science.