Undertaking Individual Transdisciplinary PhD Research for Sustainable Development: Case Studies from South Africa

Autor/inn/en	van Breda, John; Musango, Josephine; Brent, Alan
Titel	Undertaking Individual Transdisciplinary PhD Research for Sustainable Development: Case Studies from South Africa
Quelle	In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 17 (2016) 2, S.150-166 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1467-6370
DOI	10.1108/IJSHE-07-2014-0107
Schlagwörter	Interdisciplinary Approach; Foreign Countries; Doctoral Programs; Graduate Students; Student Research; Case Studies; College Faculty; Epistemology; Research Methodology; Communities of Practice; Theory Practice Relationship; Sustainable Development; Energy Conservation; Food; Security (Psychology); Agricultural Occupations; Outdoor Education; Fuels; Poverty; South Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Fächerübergreifender Unterricht; Fächerverbindender Unterricht; Interdisziplinarität; Ausland; Doktorandenprogramm; Graduate Study; Student; Students; Aufbaustudium; Graduiertenstudium; Hauptstudium; Studentin; Studentenforschung; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Fakultät; Erkenntnistheorie; Research method; Forschungsmethode; Community; Theorie-Praxis-Beziehung; Nachhaltige Entwicklung; Energieerhaltung; Energiespeicherung; Lebensmittel; Security; Psychology; Sicherheit; Agriculture; Occupation; Landwirtschaft; Beruf; Landwirtschaftlicher Beruf; Freiluftunterricht; Treibstoff; Armut; Südafrika; Süd-Afrika; Republik Südafrika; Südafrikanische Republik
Abstract	Purpose: This paper aims to improve the understanding of individual transdisciplinary PhD research in a developing country context, focusing on three individual PhD case studies in South Africa. Design/Methodology/Approach: Multiple-case method was used, and three completed transdisciplinary PhD research efforts undertaken at the Stellenbosch University were selected. They were coordinated through the TsamaHub, an inter-faculty platform at the University which organises educational modules for transdisciplinary research. Using actual research experiences and reflections of the three individual PhDs, the paper evaluates their work in terms of ontological, epistemological, methodological and methodical/methods aspects. Findings: The central challenge to individual PhD researchers is engagement with non-academic actors to enable joint problem formulation, analysis and transformation. To overcome this, the paper suggests that developing individual epistemic relationships to build "transdisciplinary epistemic communities" should be considered for inclusion as an intentional aspect of transdisciplinary research design. Research Limitations/Implications: "Transdisciplinary epistemic communities" is still a concept in its infancy and needs more work before it may be theoretically and practically useful. Practical Implications: Continuously guiding the individual transdisciplinary research process in a reflexive, recursive, transparent and equal manner is absolutely critical because transdisciplinary research cannot be done successfully if dominated by overly methods-driven approaches. Originality/Value: The discourse around transdisciplinary methodology has major implications for the design of individual PhD research. The paper provides recommendations to enhance the theory and practice of individual transdisciplinary PhD research. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emeraldinsight.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01