With the increasing introduction of transdisciplinary research (TDR) in sustainability and land use sciences, the issue of evaluation has come to the fore. Today, a large part of the literature is dedicated to the search for adequate evaluation approaches. Empirical studies often consider expert perspectives; however, knowledge of the experiences, attitudes, and motivations of a broader science-practice community applying collaborative research approaches remains rare.
The present study aims to gather insights into the perceptions and assessments of success of TDR projects from scientists and practitioners. Based on a mixed-method approach combining qualitative expert interviews with a quantitative survey reaching 178 respondents from practice and science, the results show a high commitment to the targets of TDR projects and a basic shared ‘success profile’. Nevertheless, there is currently a strong ‘practice tendency’, while TDR-specific benefits of the scientific knowledge gain remain neglected. The general success assessment of TDR projects can be described as rather moderate, indicating several deficits in the application and management of TDR.
Full article (open access):
Zscheischler, J., Rogga, S., & Lange, A. (2018). The success of transdisciplinary research for sustainable land use: individual perceptions and assessments. Sustainability Science, 1-14.