Matthias Bergmann & Thomas Jahn 
Methods for Transdisciplinary Research 
A Primer for Practice

Die transdisziplinäre Forschung bearbeitet komplexe gesellschaftliche Probleme, indem sie Wissen und Methoden aus verschiedenen Fächern verknüpft und die Expertise von Praxisakteuren miteinbezieht. Die Autoren beschreiben systematisch wissenschaftliche Methoden für die Wissensintegration und geben Beispiele aus der Forschungspraxis.
Transdisciplinarity is an approach for research on the complex real-world problems our societies are facing. During the research process new knowledge is produced by integrating different problem perceptions and knowledge bases from sciences and societal practice; the aim is to contribute to both societal and scientific progress.
The authors systematically describe scholarly methods for the task of knowledge integration in transdisciplinary research and provide examples from research practice. This book supports scholars in the conceptualization and execution of transdisciplinary research projects and is of high relevance for teaching.

Table of Content

Contents
Preface to the English edition 9 Julie Thompson Klein
Foreword to the English edition 11 Matthias Bergmann
Introduction to the 2010 German edition 13 Matthias Bergmann
Structure of the book and how to use it 17 How to use the method collection and examples 19
Chapter I: The integrative approach in transdisciplinary research 22
Chapter II: Integration methods-An overview of individual methods for transdisciplinary research practice 50
II.A Integration through conceptual clarification and theoretical framing 53 A.1 Integration through interdisciplinary conceptual work 57 A.2 Integration through theoretical framing 65 II.B Integration through research questions and hypothesis formulation 73 B.1 Integration through joint formulation of relevant research questions 74 B.2 Integration through the formulation of hypotheses 76 II.C Screening, using, refining, and further developing effective integrative scientific methods 79 C.1 Integration through screening existing (inter)disciplinary methods and identifying methodical needs 80 C.2 Integration through interdisciplinary development of methods 82 C.3 Integration through adopting established transdisciplinary methods 85 II.D Integrative assessment procedures 89 II.E Integration through the development and application of models 95 II.F Integration through artifacts, services and products as boundary objects 105 F.1 Integration through artifacts, services and products 106 F.2 Integration through publications 112 II.G Integrative procedures and instruments of research organization 115 G.1 Integration through the formation of interdisciplinary teams 115 G.2 Integration through stakeholder involvement and participation 124 G.3 Integration through iteration/recursiveness 129 G.4 Integration through key question procedure at end of project 132
Chapter III: Integration strategies-Examples of comprehensive concepts in research practice 136 III.A Preliminary remark 136 III.B Example 1: Strategies for a sustainable urban mobility-Integration through interdisciplinary method development 137 B.1 Framework conditions and project's research goal 137 B.2 Research strategy and integration methods 139 B.3 Project brief 150 III.C Example 2: Demography and supply systems-Integration through theoretical work and model development 152 C.1 Framework conditions and project's research goal 152 C.2 Research strategy and integration methods 154 C.3 Project brief 169 III.D Example 2: Decline of fish populations-Integration through formulation of hypotheses with stakeholder participation 172 D.1 Framework conditions and project's research goal 172 D.2 Research strategy and integration methods 173 D.3 Project brief 181 III.E Example 4: A reconception of grazingland management-Integration through inclusion of everyday action 183 E.1 Framework conditions and project's research goal 183 E.2 Research strategy and integration methods 184 E.3 Project brief 190 III.F Example 5: Adapted health services for nomadic pastoralists-Integration through the inclusion of a target group 192 F.1 Framework conditions and project's research goal 192 F.2 Research strategy and integration methods 193 F.3 Project brief 199 III.G Example 6: Sustainable housing renovation-Integration through including practice partners and through product orientation 202 G.1 Framework conditions and project's research goal 202 G.2 Research strategy and integration methods 203 G.3 Project brief 209 III.H Example 7: Sustainability and urban design-Integration through cross-disciplinary categorial systems and iterative forms of work 211 H.1 Framework conditions and project's research goal 211 H.2 Research strategy and integration methods 213 H.3 Project brief 219 III.I Example 8: Water demand forecast for Hamburg-Integration through continual design of the research process and operationalization of the product 220 I.1 Framework conditions and project's research goal 220 I.

About the author

Matthias Bergmann, Dr. Ing., und Engelbert Schramm, Dr. rer. nat., sind wiss. Mitarbeiter am Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung (ISOE) in Frankfurt. Dr. Thomas Jahn ist Mitgründer und Leiter des ISOE. Tobias Knobloch, Dr. phil., arbeitet als politischer Referent für die Bundesregierung in Berlin. Wolfgang Krohn ist Prof. em. für Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung an der Universität Bielefeld. Dr. Christian Pohl ist Co-Leiter des transdisciplinarity-net der Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz und Dozent an der ETH Zürich.