UNDISCIPLINED: How do research funders define transdisciplinary research?
Helen Buckley Woods
(RoRI University College London)
Paper Short Abstract
Using a suite of qualitative methods UNDISCIPLINED explored how transdisciplinary research (TDR) is described and evaluated across six TDR funding programmes. We present a framework based on three facets of meaning:Partnerships, Values, and Impact, to help funders arrive at their optimal definition.
Paper Abstract
Transdisciplinary research (TDR) is about researchers making a difference to people's lives by working side by side with them. There is no universal definition of TDR and the term ‘transdisciplinary’ varies in meaning across contexts. TDR takes diverse forms across disciplines and fields of practice, driven by various motivations. Against this backdrop research funding organisations need to clearly convey what is meant by TDR in order to attract, identify and select appropriately designed projects. In the UNDISCIPLINED project we examined how TDR is described in funding programmes, and how peer reviewers are guided by funders to ensure that applications meet TDR evaluation criteria. Using iterative, collaborative methods, researchers and funders worked together to produce a literature review, document analysis and organisational case studies, centred on six funding agencies across numerous TDR programmes. Our findings demonstrate that TDR definitions consistently encompass three facets of meaning: Partnerships, Values, and Impact. These facets were weighted differently in each funding programme we examined. All programmes emphasised the need for a broad mix of perspectives on evaluation panels, which may include a combination of disciplinary perspectives, academic/non-academic stakeholders, or both, depending on the programme context. Evaluation criteria were closely aligned to TDR descriptions with funders’ supporting actions additionally building and binding these elements together with TDR programmes. We recommend that funders define what transdisciplinary research means for themselves and their communities, including the relative importance of Partnerships, Values, and intended Impacts, use mixed panels, and strengthen communication between themselves, researchers and knowledge users.
Accepted Poster
Paper Short Abstract
Paper Abstract
Transdisciplinary research (TDR) is about researchers making a difference to people's lives by working side by side with them. There is no universal definition of TDR and the term ‘transdisciplinary’ varies in meaning across contexts. TDR takes diverse forms across disciplines and fields of practice, driven by various motivations. Against this backdrop research funding organisations need to clearly convey what is meant by TDR in order to attract, identify and select appropriately designed projects. In the UNDISCIPLINED project we examined how TDR is described in funding programmes, and how peer reviewers are guided by funders to ensure that applications meet TDR evaluation criteria. Using iterative, collaborative methods, researchers and funders worked together to produce a literature review, document analysis and organisational case studies, centred on six funding agencies across numerous TDR programmes. Our findings demonstrate that TDR definitions consistently encompass three facets of meaning: Partnerships, Values, and Impact. These facets were weighted differently in each funding programme we examined. All programmes emphasised the need for a broad mix of perspectives on evaluation panels, which may include a combination of disciplinary perspectives, academic/non-academic stakeholders, or both, depending on the programme context. Evaluation criteria were closely aligned to TDR descriptions with funders’ supporting actions additionally building and binding these elements together with TDR programmes. We recommend that funders define what transdisciplinary research means for themselves and their communities, including the relative importance of Partnerships, Values, and intended Impacts, use mixed panels, and strengthen communication between themselves, researchers and knowledge users.
Poster session
Session 1 Tuesday 1 July, 2025, -