Key Considerations to Carry Out Collaborative Research: The Project Team's Perspective of Three Climate Adaptation Projects

Master thesis (2023)

Authors

J.L. Groot Technology, Policy and Management

Contributors

G. de Vries Organisation & Governance - TPM (supervisor 2)
V.J. Cortes Arevalo Policy Analysis - TPM (supervisor 1)
E. Minkman Organisation & Governance - TPM (supervisor 1)
Faculty
Technology, Policy and Management
Copyright: © 2023 Janne Groot
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

01-09-2023

Language

English

Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Faculty

Technology, Policy and Management

Abstract

Transdisciplinary (TD) research plays a crucial role in addressing the complex challenges of climate adaptation. Despite popularisation of TD research, ambiguity remains in the specific implementation of this approach. As more projects aim to adopt TD approaches, more clarity is needed to structure the organisation and implementation of TD projects. This study aims to provide insight from practice on how challenges and successes can be addressed in TD projects. Through an in-depth investigation of three TD projects, this research explores the key components of TD projects, identifies main challenges and successes, and elicits stakeholders' suggested improvements. The study consists of a comprehensive analysis of literature, expert interviews, interview data, and focus group discussions. A theoretical framework is developed to define TD concepts and relationships, addressing the issue of diffuse definitions. The research highlights the importance of shared understanding among stakeholders, particularly in addressing cultural challenges and achieving inclusiveness. Stakeholders' differing perspectives on successes and challenges are observed, leading to the identification of common themes across projects. The results underscore the significance of existing relationships and collaboration in TD projects, contributing to successful outcomes. However, certain challenges, such as inflexible institutional regulations, are also shared across cases. The analysis highlights the need for more explicit reflection on successes and structured approaches for envisioning improvements. The study also reveals a divide between participants based on their backgrounds, suggesting the importance of promoting knowledge integration among diverse stakeholders. Overall, this study contributes to the advancement of TD research in climate adaptation, empowering stakeholders to navigate complex challenges and foster sustainable solutions.