Paper short abstract:

How can transdisciplinary research contribute to the democratization of socio-technical lifeworlds? The contribution discusses methodological considerations for dealing with normative tensions and democratic conflicts that arise in the context of transdisciplinary research.

Paper long abstract:

Where different actors in Transdisciplinary Research come together, conflicts inevitably arise, whether due to different thought styles, research objectives, power hierarchies or differing values. However, conflicts in transdisciplinary collaborations have barely been directly addressed in the research literature (Wiek 2007; Siebenhüner 2018). Value conflicts in transdisciplinary settings pose a particular challenge, which this contribution aims to address with some methodological considerations.

To initiate this discussion, I will give a brief overview of (value) conflict theories and their implications for transdisciplinary research. It is argued that value conflicts should not be seen as a malfunction to be suppressed, but as epistemologically and ethically valuable moments that give important insights into what drives or inhibits research processes as well as socio-technical transformations. In other words: How can transdisciplinary research contribute to a democratization of socio-technical change, especially if we assume moral pluralism? The contribution aims to invite discussion of these and similar questions and problems as well as an exchange of experiences.