Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106751
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) The objectives of stakeholder involvement in transdisciplinary research. A conceptual framework for a reflective and reflexive practise
Author Schmidt, L.; Falk, T.; Siegmund-Schultze, M.; Spangenberg, J.H.
Source Titel Ecological Economics
Year 2020
Department BZF
Volume 176
Page From art. 106751
Language englisch
Keywords Stakeholder involvement; Participatory approaches; Research project design; Sustainable land management
Abstract

Transdisciplinary research is a well-recognised approach to address complex real-world problems. However, the literature on a central aspect of transdisciplinarity, namely stakeholder involvement, largely lacks a reflection on its objectives. In response, we present a framework defining four general rationales for stakeholder involvement: normative, substantive, social-learning, and implementation objectives. We demonstrate the applicability of the framework and analyse how the design and processes of three collaborative research projects dealing with sustainable land management in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America were affected by motivations to include stakeholders.

Our assessment indicates that at the projects' outset, many scientists pursued a normative rationale and saw stakeholder involvement as a burden. In the course of the projects, the substantive objective became more relevant as being closely linked to the core mandate of scientists. The projects also aimed for social learning and implementation processes, which, however, did not remain uncontested among team members. Overall, our study indicates that jointly negotiating, clarifying, communicating, and reflecting the underlying objectives of stakeholder involvement can help developing more effective interaction strategies and clarifying expectations. The conceptual framework can guide a systematic reflective and reflexive practise and support the planning and co-designing of future transdisciplinary research projects.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=23729
Schmidt, L., Falk, T., Siegmund-Schultze, M., Spangenberg, J.H. (2020):
The objectives of stakeholder involvement in transdisciplinary research. A conceptual framework for a reflective and reflexive practise
Ecol. Econ. 176 , art. 106751 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106751