Foreword 4
References 8
Contents 10
Contributors 12
About the Authors 14
About the Editors 19
Part I An Introduction to Transdisciplinary Research 21
1 Introducing a Transdisciplinary Approach to Applied Urban Health Research 22
Current State of Urban Health Research 22
Unidisciplinary, Multidisciplinary, and Interdisciplinary Research Studying Urban Health Phenomena 23
TD Research for Urban Health 26
Aims and Organization of the Book 27
References 29
2 Benefits and Challenges of Transdisciplinary Research for Urban Health Researchers 31
Realist Review of Community-Based Services for Homeless Adults with Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders 31
[Multiple] Heads are Better than One: Strengths and Benefits for TD Researchers 32
Many Hands [Do Not] Make for Light Work: Challenges for TD Researchers 35
Process Challenges 35
Academic Support Challenges 37
Conclusion 39
References 39
3 In Search of Empowering Health Research for Marginalized Populations in Urban Settings: The Value of a Transdisciplinary Approach 41
Considering Transdisciplinarity 42
Key Components of the TD Approach and Their Contribution to Research on the Health of Marginalized Populations 43
Collaborative, Participatory Methods in the Production of Cross-Sectoral Knowledge 43
Integration of Quantitative and Qualitative Methods 44
Reflexivity 45
The Road to TD Research: Examples of the Evolution of Harm Reduction Research in Southeast Toronto 46
Experiences with Unidisciplinary Harm Reduction Research 46
Experiences with Interdisciplinary Harm Reduction Research 48
Experiences with TD Harm Reduction Research 50
Recommendations for the Implementation of Empowering and Actionable TD Research for Marginalized Populations 52
References 53
Part II Examples of Transdisciplinary Research 56
4 Reducing Health Disparities Experienced by Refugees Resettled in Urban Areas: A Community-Based Transdisciplinary Intervention Model 57
Refugees 58
Refugee Mental Health and Well-being 58
Refugee Well-being Project: Project Description 60
Development of the Project 63
The TD Approach of the Refugee Well-being Project 65
Research Design and Research Team 67
Discussion 68
References 69
5 The Street Health Report 2007: Community-Based Research for Social Change 72
The Street Health Report 2007 74
Partnerships and Community Involvement 75
Research Methods and Findings 78
Knowledge Translation and Study Impact 79
Conclusion 82
References 82
6 Safety as a Social Value: Revisiting a Participatory Case Study in Scotland 84
Working with the Community 85
Working with Professionals 88
After the Study 90
Working with Each Other: Lay Expertise, Community Engagement, and Transdisciplinarity 91
References 94
Part III The Process of Transdisciplinary Research 96
7 Methodological Notes on Conducting Transdisciplinary Research 97
The Studies 98
DAVI: Drugs, Alcohol and Violence, International 98
YPP: Youth Pathways Project 99
Features of TD Research: DAVI vs. YPP 100
Formation of the Research Problem 100
The Nature of Methodologies 101
Collaboration 103
Conclusion 106
References 107
8 Collaborative Processes in Transdisciplinary Research 110
Characteristics of TD Research Initiatives 111
Processes of TD Research Initiatives: Collaborative Readiness and Capacity Factors 112
Intrapersonal Factors 113
Interpersonal Factors 114
Organizational Factors 114
Structural Factors 115
Societal and Scientific Factors 115
Information and Communication Overload in TD Research 116
Strategies for Encouraging and Sustaining Effective TD Collaborations 117
Intrapersonal Strategies 117
Interpersonal Strategies 117
Organizational Strategies 118
Structural Strategies 119
Summary and Conclusions 120
References 120
9 From Complex Problems to Complex Problem-Solving: Transdisciplinary Practice as Knowledge Translation 124
Getting a Handle on KT 125
Identifying KT Competencies 128
Policy Literacy 128
Stakeholder Savvy 130
Asking, Listening, Responding, Explaining 131
Writing 132
Communicative Intent 133
Managing Stakeholder Expectations 134
Adopting Responsive, 'Realist' Methodologies 135
Advocacy and Forming Coalitions 136
Engaged Scholarship 137
Building TD, KT Competencies: An Example 138
Conclusion 140
References 141
Part IV Moving Forward 143
10 Transdisciplinary Training in Health Research: Distinctive Features and Future Directions 144
TD Training: Distinguishing Features and Goals 145
TD Training Programs: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Post-doctoral Levels 148
TD Training at the Undergraduate Level: The Case of ID-SURE 149
TD Training at the Doctoral Level: The School of Social Ecology at UC Irvine 149
TD Training at the Post-doctoral Level 150
Evaluation of TD Training Programs 152
Challenges Associated with TD Training Programs 153
Conclusions and Directions for Future Research 156
References 156
11 Funding Agencies and Transdisciplinary Research 159
Definitional Issues 160
Supporting TD Teams 160
Box 11.1 Supporting team development 161
Box 11.2 Training the next generation of TD scientists 163
The Need for and Design of Requests for Proposals for TD Health Research 165
Peer Review of Multidisciplinary and TD Research Funding Opportunities 166
Box 11.3 Ensuring appropriate peer review 167
Sharing Resources 169
Lessons Learned and Future Trends 169
References 170
12 Moving Forward: The Future of Transdisciplinary Health Research 171
Benefits and Challenges 172
Future Directions 174
Concluding Remarks 176
References 176
Subject Index 178