A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Conducting sustainability research in the anthropocene: toward a relational approach
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4591-3754
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5057-0648
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4511-1532
Scholars and practitioners are urgently highlighting the need to apply a relational approach to effectively address societal crises. At the same time, little is known about the associated challenges, and there is little advice regarding how to operationalize this approach in sustainability science. Against this background, this article explores how we can break out of our current paradigms and approaches, and instead apply relational thinking, being, and acting in the way we conduct research. To achieve this, we systematically list all major research phases, and assess possible pathways for integrating a relational paradigm for each step. We show that moving toward a relational paradigm requires us to methodically question and redefine existing theories of change, concepts, and approaches, for instance by combining abductive reasoning, first-person inquiries, and decentering the human through critical complexity theory. Challenging mainstream thought, and daring to ask different questions in each step is crucial to ultimately shift scientific norms and systems. Hence, we offer a catalog of questions that may help to systematically integrate relational being, thinking, and acting into the process, as a tool for transforming current paradigms in research, and associated education and practice. Finally, we highlight the importance of further research to develop and refine our outcomes.
Conducting sustainability research in the anthropocene: toward a relational approach
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4591-3754
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5057-0648
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4511-1532
Scholars and practitioners are urgently highlighting the need to apply a relational approach to effectively address societal crises. At the same time, little is known about the associated challenges, and there is little advice regarding how to operationalize this approach in sustainability science. Against this background, this article explores how we can break out of our current paradigms and approaches, and instead apply relational thinking, being, and acting in the way we conduct research. To achieve this, we systematically list all major research phases, and assess possible pathways for integrating a relational paradigm for each step. We show that moving toward a relational paradigm requires us to methodically question and redefine existing theories of change, concepts, and approaches, for instance by combining abductive reasoning, first-person inquiries, and decentering the human through critical complexity theory. Challenging mainstream thought, and daring to ask different questions in each step is crucial to ultimately shift scientific norms and systems. Hence, we offer a catalog of questions that may help to systematically integrate relational being, thinking, and acting into the process, as a tool for transforming current paradigms in research, and associated education and practice. Finally, we highlight the importance of further research to develop and refine our outcomes.
Conducting sustainability research in the anthropocene: toward a relational approach
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4591-3754
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5057-0648
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4511-1532
Scholars and practitioners are urgently highlighting the need to apply a relational approach to effectively address societal crises. At the same time, little is known about the associated challenges, and there is little advice regarding how to operationalize this approach in sustainability science. Against this background, this article explores how we can break out of our current paradigms and approaches, and instead apply relational thinking, being, and acting in the way we conduct research. To achieve this, we systematically list all major research phases, and assess possible pathways for integrating a relational paradigm for each step. We show that moving toward a relational paradigm requires us to methodically question and redefine existing theories of change, concepts, and approaches, for instance by combining abductive reasoning, first-person inquiries, and decentering the human through critical complexity theory. Challenging mainstream thought, and daring to ask different questions in each step is crucial to ultimately shift scientific norms and systems. Hence, we offer a catalog of questions that may help to systematically integrate relational being, thinking, and acting into the process, as a tool for transforming current paradigms in research, and associated education and practice. Finally, we highlight the importance of further research to develop and refine our outcomes.
Conducting sustainability research in the anthropocene: toward a relational approach
Sustain Sci
Böhme, Jessica (author) / Spreitzer, Eva-Maria (author) / Wamsler, Christine (author)
Sustainability Science ; 19 ; 1169-1185
2024-07-01
17 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Eco-justice , Inner transformation , Inner transition , Existential sustainability , Paradigms , Relationality , Relational ontology , Systems thinking , Transformation research , Existential resilience , Inner-outer transformation Environment , Environmental Management , Climate Change Management and Policy , Environmental Economics , Landscape Ecology , Sustainable Development , Public Health , Earth and Environmental Science
Correction: Conducting sustainability research in the anthropocene: toward a relational approach
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