A Sharing Meanings Approach for Interdisciplinary Hazards Research.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Social Science
• Risk Analysis

Background:

• Interdisciplinary research in hazards is complex due to diverse approaches.
• Navigating these disciplinary differences presents significant challenges for effective collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose the "sharing meanings approach" to improve interdisciplinary collaboration in hazards research.
• To address common challenges in interdisciplinary teamwork by organizing them into four focal areas.

Main Methods:

• The "sharing meanings approach" focuses on the process of sharing diverse meanings, not on creating a single set of shared meanings.
• Identifies common challenges and recommends strategies within four focal areas: worldviews, language, research design, and project goals.
• Utilizes a hypothetical example to illustrate the approach's application in overcoming roadblocks.

Main Results:

• The approach facilitates the explicit articulation of implicit assumptions within interdisciplinary hazards teams.
• It transforms differences into productive tension, fostering innovation.
• Enables the development of hybrid methodological research designs.

Conclusions:

• The "sharing meanings approach" provides an operational framework for enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration in hazards research.
• It leverages differences as opportunities for methodological innovation.
• Making implicit assumptions explicit is key to overcoming common challenges in hazards research.