TY - JOUR

T1 - Researching collaborative interdisciplinary teams

T2 - practices and principles for navigating researcher positionality

AU - Freeth, Rebecca Claire

AU - Vilsmaier, Ulli

N1 - Funding Information: The authors express their gratitude to Jeremias Herberg, Judith Kahle, Paivi Abernethy, Daniela Peukert, Dave Abson and members of the Trans-disciplinary Methods group at Leuphana for their thoughtful comments. This article has greatly benefitted from their insights. We are indebted to the unstinting goodwill and openness of members of the Leverage Points team. This research is supported by the Volkswagenstiftung and the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (grant number A112269). Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Finnish Society for Science and Technology Studies. All rights reserved.

PY - 2020/9/15

Y1 - 2020/9/15

N2 - Collaborative interdisciplinary research is on the rise but can be difficult and daunting. There is much to learn by studying the inner workings of collaboration, to the potential benefit of both science and technology studies (STS) and those who collaborate. We have been studying the inner workings of a collaborative interdisciplinary team using formative accompanying research (FAR). Assuming multiple insider-outsider vantage points implied adopting dynamic positionality in relation to the team. In this article, we outline an approach to navigating positionality based on these research experiences. Navigation is aided by identifying learning orientations to a collaborative team, to learn about, with or for the team; and by adopting practices and principles to balance i) observation and participation; ii) curiosity and care; and iii) impartiality and investment. We illustrate what we have learned so far, demonstrating how to apply these navigating instruments so that the skilful use of FAR positionality can advance the understanding and practice of collaborative interdisciplinary research.

AB - Collaborative interdisciplinary research is on the rise but can be difficult and daunting. There is much to learn by studying the inner workings of collaboration, to the potential benefit of both science and technology studies (STS) and those who collaborate. We have been studying the inner workings of a collaborative interdisciplinary team using formative accompanying research (FAR). Assuming multiple insider-outsider vantage points implied adopting dynamic positionality in relation to the team. In this article, we outline an approach to navigating positionality based on these research experiences. Navigation is aided by identifying learning orientations to a collaborative team, to learn about, with or for the team; and by adopting practices and principles to balance i) observation and participation; ii) curiosity and care; and iii) impartiality and investment. We illustrate what we have learned so far, demonstrating how to apply these navigating instruments so that the skilful use of FAR positionality can advance the understanding and practice of collaborative interdisciplinary research.

KW - Transdisciplinary studies

KW - interdisciplinary collaboration

KW - research methodology

KW - dynamic proximity

KW - critical reflexivity

KW - embedded relationality

KW - participant observation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85090083710&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.23987/sts.73060

DO - 10.23987/sts.73060

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 33

SP - 57

EP - 72

JO - Science & Technology Studies

JF - Science & Technology Studies

SN - 0886-3040

IS - 3

ER -