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Photo of Rebecca Laycock Pedersen (white woman with glasses)

Rebecca Laycock Pedersen

Postdoctoral researcher

Photo of Rebecca Laycock Pedersen (white woman with glasses)

Why context matters : understanding transdisciplinary research through the lens of nine context factors

Author

  • Farina L. Tolksdorf
  • Marie Weiss
  • Amanda Jiménez-Aceituno
  • Nina Maria Frölich
  • Nana Adjoa B. Amoah
  • David P.M. Lam
  • Claire Grauer
  • Julia Baird
  • Corinna Ballnat
  • Andra Ioana Horcea-Milcu
  • Bettina König
  • Rebecca Laycock Pedersen
  • María Máñez Costa
  • David Manuel-Navarrete
  • Dominic A. Martin
  • Bridget McGlynn
  • Marion Mehring
  • Susanne Mühlthaler
  • Flurina Schneider
  • Mandy Singer-Brodowski
  • Luciano Villalba
  • Annika Weiser
  • Daniel J. Lang
Show all

Summary, in English

Transdisciplinary research (TDR) integrates academic and non-academic expertise to co-produce actionable knowledge that contributes to societal impact in addressing sustainability challenges. While context is widely acknowledged as important, the role and definition of context factors shaping TDR remain underexplored. This study develops an integrative understanding of context by synthesising theoretical literature and analysing 17 semi-structured interviews from international TDR case studies. We identify nine key context factors across three categories: outer factors (outside projects), inner factors (within projects), and temporal/ spatial dimensions (project boundaries). These context factors influence collaborative research processes in different ways across projects, requiring ongoing reflexivity and adaptation. Positionality awareness and ethics are central in shaping power dynamics, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge-co-production, highlighting the need for context-sensitive approaches. To support this in a structured way, we present a framework linking context with research design, process, methods and outcomes. Additionally, we provide a set of reflective questions for researchers and practitioners to identify, assess, and respond to contextual influences that shape stainability transformations. By advancing a more systematic understanding of context, this study contributes to building reflexive and inclusive approaches to transdisciplinary collaboration.

Department/s

  • LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)

Publishing year

2025

Language

English

Pages

1482-1518

Publication/Series

Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research

Volume

38

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Routledge

Topic

  • Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified

Keywords

  • collaborative research methods
  • knowledge co-production
  • positionality
  • power dynamics
  • Reflexivity
  • research framework
  • sustainability transformation

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1351-1610