Skip to content
Menu
Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich

Research

The methodological approach we adopt in most of our research can be described as participatory research. In the research area of environmental governance, our inquiry is more theory-driven and fundamental research-oriented.

The goal of participatory research is to gain a deep understanding of the concrete logics of action of individuals, groups and organizations in a discursive or decision-making process through a critical analysis and diagnostic reflexivity. Here, theory development occurs through an iterative process of research, consulting and joint reflection. The kind of interaction between researchers and research ‘objects’ during a study is therefore the main difference between participatory and fundamental social research. 

Participatory research implies that people, i.e., individuals, groups and organizations, engage in defining and analyzing a problem and developing a response to it through appropriate tools and measures. The researcher takes a role of a consultant, crisis manager and sometimes promoter of the ‘solution’. Contrary to action research, the researcher does not participate in the implementation of a solution, but seeks to adopt the position of external evaluator or possibly mediator. 

For more information about our research please visit the following pages:

To top