Abstract
Given that research on sustainable development usually relates to real-world challenges, it requires researchers to align scientific knowledge production with concrete societal problem situations. To empirically explore how researchers frame scientific contributions when designing and planning projects, we conducted a qualitative study on land use–related projects based on the methodology of grounded theory. We identified major influence factors and various types of research design. Among the factors that influence project framing, scientific considerations were found to be more important than expected. Core characteristics of project framings concerned (a) type of scientific contributions envisaged; (b) real-world sustainability challenges addressed, and (c) researchers’ conceptions of how knowledge would reach its addressees. Three different types of project framing were found, suggesting that framing strongly depends on (the researchers’ perception of) how well a real-world problem situation is understood scientifically and how strongly are societal actors aware of the problem and act upon it. The spectrum of how researchers planned that knowledge would reach its addressees comprised communicating results to interactive conceptions allowing for mutual learning throughout the research process. The typology reveals a variety of useful and promising project framings for sustainable development research. The typology may serve to reconcile conceptual ideals and expectations with researchers’ realities.
Highlights
Research for sustainable development is directed at triggering or supporting sustainability-oriented societal change
To empirically explore how researchers frame scientific contributions when designing and planning projects, we conducted a qualitative study on land use–related projects based on the methodology of grounded theory
We summarize our findings in a typology of how researchers frame scientific contributions to sustainable development
Summary
Research for sustainable development is directed at triggering or supporting sustainability-oriented societal change It serves to improve our knowledge and understanding for reconsidering the way we meet our needs. A number of approaches are being explored to meet this extended demand, including (transformative) sustainability science (Kates et al 2001; Komiyama and Takeuchi 2006), boundary work (Guston 2001), (open) knowledge systems (Cash et al 2003; Tabara and Chabay 2013), integrative research (Van Kerkhoff 2013), and transdisciplinary research (Hirsch Hadorn et al 2008; Jahn et al 2012). The Sustain Sci (2016) 11:789–800 question of how researchers do master aligning research with real-world knowledge needs has not been addressed comprehensively so far
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