Transdisciplinary Research Revisited. Epistemic Concern, Research Objects, Form of Knowledge, and Methodology

The ongoing growth of the field of transdisciplinary research primarily takes place in transformative practice when specific challenges and problems arise. Usually there is little space for conceptual and theoretical reflection. This paper offers a comprehensive frame of reference for the epistemological structure of transdisciplinary research. Based on the principle of sustainable development, the discussion focuses on the constitution of its research objects, the need for contextualization in the experimental practice, challenges and possibilities of generalization of the knowledge created and specifics of the methodology to be applied. This paper does not aim to reach a concluding diagnosis of these items, but rather adds to the further debate on the epistemological structure of trans disciplinary research. The authors thereby expect that the practice of transdisciplinarity and its position within the field of science will benefit from theoretical reflection.