Reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science: introducing a critical systems approach
Abstract Non-technical summary Transdisciplinary sustainability scientists work with many different actors in pursuit of change. In so doing they make choices about why and how to engage with different perspectives in their research. Reflexivity – active individual and collective critical reflection...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Global Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479824000498/type/journal_article |
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| author | Anita Lazurko Michele-Lee Moore L. Jamila Haider Simon West Daniel D. P. McCarthy |
| author_facet | Anita Lazurko Michele-Lee Moore L. Jamila Haider Simon West Daniel D. P. McCarthy |
| author_sort | Anita Lazurko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Non-technical summary
Transdisciplinary sustainability scientists work with many different actors in pursuit of change. In so doing they make choices about why and how to engage with different perspectives in their research. Reflexivity – active individual and collective critical reflection – is considered an important capacity for researchers to address the resulting ethical and practical challenges. We developed a framework for reflexivity as a transformative capacity in sustainability science through a critical systems approach, which helps make any decisions that influence which perspectives are included or excluded in research explicit. We suggest that transdisciplinary sustainability research can become more transformative by nurturing reflexivity.
Technical summary
Transdisciplinary sustainability science is increasingly applied to study transformative change. Yet, transdisciplinary research involves diverse actors who hold contrasting and sometimes conflicting perspectives and worldviews. Reflexivity is cited as a crucial capacity for navigating the resulting challenges, yet notions of reflexivity are often focused on individual researcher reflections that lack explicit links to the collective transdisciplinary research process and predominant modes of inquiry in the field. This gap presents the risk that reflexivity remains on the periphery of sustainability science and becomes ‘unreflexive’, as crucial dimensions are left unacknowledged. Our objective was to establish a framework for reflexivity as a transformative capacity in sustainability science through a critical systems approach. We developed and refined the framework through a rapid scoping review of literature on transdisciplinarity, transformation, and reflexivity, and reflection on a scenario study in the Red River Basin (US, Canada). The framework characterizes reflexivity as the capacity to nurture a dynamic, embedded, and collective process of self-scrutiny and mutual learning in service of transformative change, which manifests through interacting boundary processes – boundary delineation, interaction, and transformation. The case study reflection suggests how embedding this framework in research can expose boundary processes that block transformation and nurture more reflexive and transformative research.
Social media summary
Transdisciplinary sustainability research may become more transformative by nurturing reflexivity as a dynamic, embedded, and collective learning process.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4737789ef470470a9d94de479ca2e98b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2059-4798 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-4737789ef470470a9d94de479ca2e98b2025-01-16T21:51:51ZengCambridge University PressGlobal Sustainability2059-47982025-01-01810.1017/sus.2024.49Reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science: introducing a critical systems approachAnita Lazurko0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3313-4091Michele-Lee Moore1L. Jamila Haider2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0265-5356Simon West3Daniel D. P. McCarthy4Soils & Land Use Group, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster, UK School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, CanadaStockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Centre for Global Studies and Dept of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, CanadaStockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenStockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, AustraliaSchool of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, CanadaAbstract Non-technical summary Transdisciplinary sustainability scientists work with many different actors in pursuit of change. In so doing they make choices about why and how to engage with different perspectives in their research. Reflexivity – active individual and collective critical reflection – is considered an important capacity for researchers to address the resulting ethical and practical challenges. We developed a framework for reflexivity as a transformative capacity in sustainability science through a critical systems approach, which helps make any decisions that influence which perspectives are included or excluded in research explicit. We suggest that transdisciplinary sustainability research can become more transformative by nurturing reflexivity. Technical summary Transdisciplinary sustainability science is increasingly applied to study transformative change. Yet, transdisciplinary research involves diverse actors who hold contrasting and sometimes conflicting perspectives and worldviews. Reflexivity is cited as a crucial capacity for navigating the resulting challenges, yet notions of reflexivity are often focused on individual researcher reflections that lack explicit links to the collective transdisciplinary research process and predominant modes of inquiry in the field. This gap presents the risk that reflexivity remains on the periphery of sustainability science and becomes ‘unreflexive’, as crucial dimensions are left unacknowledged. Our objective was to establish a framework for reflexivity as a transformative capacity in sustainability science through a critical systems approach. We developed and refined the framework through a rapid scoping review of literature on transdisciplinarity, transformation, and reflexivity, and reflection on a scenario study in the Red River Basin (US, Canada). The framework characterizes reflexivity as the capacity to nurture a dynamic, embedded, and collective process of self-scrutiny and mutual learning in service of transformative change, which manifests through interacting boundary processes – boundary delineation, interaction, and transformation. The case study reflection suggests how embedding this framework in research can expose boundary processes that block transformation and nurture more reflexive and transformative research. Social media summary Transdisciplinary sustainability research may become more transformative by nurturing reflexivity as a dynamic, embedded, and collective learning process. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479824000498/type/journal_articlecommunication and educationmodeling and simulationplanning and designpoliciespolitics and governancesocial value |
| spellingShingle | Anita Lazurko Michele-Lee Moore L. Jamila Haider Simon West Daniel D. P. McCarthy Reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science: introducing a critical systems approach Global Sustainability communication and education modeling and simulation planning and design policies politics and governance social value |
| title | Reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science: introducing a critical systems approach |
| title_full | Reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science: introducing a critical systems approach |
| title_fullStr | Reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science: introducing a critical systems approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science: introducing a critical systems approach |
| title_short | Reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science: introducing a critical systems approach |
| title_sort | reflexivity as a transformative capacity for sustainability science introducing a critical systems approach |
| topic | communication and education modeling and simulation planning and design policies politics and governance social value |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479824000498/type/journal_article |
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