Transdisciplinary research - A distinct mode of knowledge production? Problem-orientation, knowledge integration and participation in transdisciplinary research projects

The debate on transdisciplinary research has so far rarely addressed the epistemological and methodological issues of this new form of scientific practice. With our paper we offer a contribution that attempts to fill this gap. Setting out from a system of knowledge desiderata of problem-oriented research we present an empirical analysis of problem-orientation, knowledge integration and participation of non-scientific actors in transdisciplinary research projects. The results show that the term transdisciplinary research is used for quite heterogeneous project goals and epistemic ends. The results reveal further that methods of knowledge integration are used only on a small scale and that participation often does not primarily serve epistemic ends. Thus, the notion of transdisciplinary research covers projects only in the sense of a family-resemblance, and does not represent a fertile methodological point of reference. Therefore, we propose to relate further methodological considerations with types of knowledge desiderata.