Understanding Context in Transdisciplinary Research: Our New Framework for Reflexive, Adaptive Collaboration

In transdisciplinary research, we often talk about the importance of “context,” but what do we really mean by that—and how does it shape our research in practice?

In our new article, recently published in Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, we offer a response to this question by developing an integrative framework for understanding context in transdisciplinary research. Based on a synthesis of literature and empirical insights from 17 international case studies, we identify nine interrelated context factors, organised into three categories:

• Outer context factors like political, legal, and socio-ecological systems;

• Inner context factors like team composition, types of knowledge, and team dynamics; and

• Temporal and spatial dimensions that underlie and shape how projects unfold across time and space.

The different context factors that influence transdisciplinary research projects

Context in transdisciplinary research is not a static backdrop—it’s dynamic, relational, and often contested. It shapes how we frame problems, build teams, design methods, and co-create knowledge. Our framework (in the image above) and set of reflective questions (found here) can help researchers and practitioners move beyond vague references to context to support context-sensitive, transformative research.

Through this work, we hope to support more inclusive, reflexive, and effective collaborations across academic and societal boundaries. Context-sensitivity is not just a design issue, it’s a matter of ethics, equity, and impact.

You can read the full article here.

I would love to hear from others doing transdisciplinary research—what tools or practices help you stay attuned to the complexity of context?